Species Type:
Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Chocolate chip sea star
Size:
These sea stars can grow up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter.
Diet:
Chocolate chip sea stars eat sponges and marine debris.
Range & Habitat:
In the Indo-Pacific Ocean, chocolate chip sea stars can be found in seagrass beds and coral reef communities.
Details:
Chocolate chip sea stars have a creamy white base and dark brown projections, resembling chocolate chips. When threatened, they can lose one of their five limbs (a process known as autotomy) to escape predators, and the lost limb may regenerate over time. Chocolate chip sea stars are carnivores and typically feed on detritus, small invertebrates, and even the soft tissue of corals.