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Protoreaster nodosus
P. nodosus possess rows of spines or "horns"; black conical points arranged in a single row, radially on the dorsal side, which may erode and become blunt. These dark protrusions are used to scare away possible predators, by looking frightening or dangerous. On the ventral side, tube feet, purple in color (or pale, transparent pink), are arranged in rows on each arm.
Found in the warm, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region Horned sea stars prefer sheltered, sandy or slightly muddy bottoms more than hard substrata such as coral reef, and are frequently sighted conspicuously between the leaves of seagrasses on sea grass meadows or on blank stretch of coral sand.
Groups of horned seastars were spotted living together with other echinoderms in the sandbar of San Vicente.
Spotted on Jul 16, 2019
Submitted on Jul 16, 2019
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