Sea Star

Common name: Red-knobbed starfish / red spiny starfish /african red star

Red-knobbed starfish

Scientific name: Protoreaster linckii

Distribution:
It is found in shallow tidal pools and up to 100 ft deep reefs in Indo-Pacific ocean.

Description:
The red-knobbed starfish, also known as red spiny starfish and African starfish, is a species of starfish native to Indo-Pacific. The starfish has a stunning appearance and can be easily identified with the red tubercles or spines. It reaches up to a diameter of 12 inches.
It has a striped grey body with five arms covered with bright red tubercles. The tubercles grow upward. Red stripes connect these protrusions, giving its back the appearance of wires interconnecting in a grid-like fashion.

Various type of Star fish

Habit:
The red-knobbed starfish mainly eats soft corals, sponges, clams and even other starfishes. They are benthic creatures, i.e.- they live on the sea floor.

Importance:
This starfish is popular and kept as a pet in aquarium.