Cushion sea star
Oreaster reticulatus
Linnaeus, 1758
Description:
This species is well known because of the size. The arms are short, thick. The body is thick and heavy. Short, knobby spines on the surface form a net-like pattern. When young, the color is olive green, later the color changes to brown or orange.
Size: up to 45 cm in diameter.
Habitat:
The species lives on sandy bottoms or in seagrass fields in shallow waters.
Depth: ranges from 2 m down to 12 m.
Distribution:
Occasional to common all over the Caribbean.