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Phylum Echinodermata > Class Stelleroida > Subclass Asteroidea
Pale scaly sea stars
Nepanthia maculata

Family Asterinidae
updated Jul 2020
Where seen? So far, seen only once, on Beting Bronok. According to Lane, this sea star is rather rare in Singapore. It was only first recorded for Singapore in 1991. According to Marsh and Fromont, it is found on muddy to coarse sand with rubble or coral in sheltered waters in Australia.

Features: Diameter with arms about 11cm. A rounded star (not flat) with long plump arms like half a cylinder with a flat base and rounded tips.
The upper side is covered with 'scales'. When submerged tiny transparent finger-like structures (papulae) might be seen on the upperside. Its underside is plain. On the underside, in grooves along the arms, are long tube feet tipped with suckers.

May be mistaken for the Red scaly sea star. The Red scaly sea star is smaller with reddish markings on the underside, and is more commonly encountered.

Beting Bronok, Aug 05

Scales on the upperside.

Tiny tube feet emerge among the scales.

Pale underside.

Long tube feet from the grooves
on the underside.

Tiny tube feet emerge among the scales.

Pale scaly sea stars on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

References
  • Loisette M. Marsh and Jane Fromont. Field Guide to Shallow Water Seastars of Australia. 2020. Western Australian Museum. 543pp.
  • Lane, David J.W. and Didier Vandenspiegel. 2003. A Guide to Sea Stars and Other Echinoderms of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 187pp.
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