Protoreaster nodosus (2) Horned Starfish Knobbed Star Fish Longispine Sea Star Echinoderma Asterozoa Asteroidea Oreasteridae

Protorester nodosus Giant Horned Starfish Knobbed Star Fish Longispine Sea Star cm 16-19 Echinoderma Asterozoa Asteroidea Oreasteridae, natural light brown colour.
Family: Oreasteridae.
Common name: Horned Starfish, Knobbed Star Fish, Starfish Longispine or Chocolate Ship Sea Star.
Syn. Asterias nodosa, Asterias dorsatus, Oreaster clouei, Oreaster franklini, Oreaster hiulcus, Oreaster hondurae, Oreaster intermedia, Oreaster mammosus, Oreaster modestus, Oreaster mutica, Oreaster nahensis, Oreaster nodosus, Oreaster turritus, Pentaceros clouei, Pentaceros franklini, Pentaceros hiulcus, Pentaceros modestus, Pentaceros nodosus, Pentaceros turritus, Protoreaster gotoi.

Protoreaster nodosus is a species of starfish found in the warm, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region.
P. nodosus possess rows of spines or "horns"; black conical spikes arranged in a single row, radially on the dorsal side, which may erode and become blunt. These dark protrusions are used to scare away any predators, looking scary or dangerous. Most of these stars possess five tapering arms at the tip, although there are anomalies such as four- and six-armed specimens. They can grow up to 30cm (12in) in diameter. They are usually colored in shades of red or brown, but can be light brown, the color of cookie dough. This appearance, combined with the small horns on the dorsal side, give the starfish an appearance similar to that of an irregular biscuit.
Horned starfish prefer sheltered, sandy or slightly muddy bottoms to hard substrates such as coral reefs. They appear to be opportunistic carnivores; adults are known to prey on most sessile life forms, including hard corals, sponges, and even sea urchins.
As with other tropical echinoderms, commensal animals such as shrimp, tiny brittle stars, and even juvenile fish can be found on the surface of a horned starfish. This can be attributed to its protective nature, as few predators would dare to eat this echinoderm.