Hey EmilyB I know the one you are thinking of and it's not the same one.
Someone has my copy of the Baesch atlas so I can't check that one.
If you have a Modern Coral Reef Aquarim Vol 4 you will see an almost exact picture of your starfish.
I also believe the one you are thinking of is a sub-temperate species.
Even if you disagree with me, It is still in that family. It has the small pores on it's body that are indictive of this family. If I had a scanner I'd send you what I have,but I don't. If you search on google images you'll see a picture of it. Unfortunately the website is no longer active.
I'll see if it can be ordered through any of the suppliers I know.

Van, I agree that it is likely "within the family" but I don't think it's Echinaster echinophorus either. (I had one of this guys for a time too.) Although it is the closest looking, there are subtle enough differences to cast a slight doubt in my mind.

I was pretty sure the supplier said he had gotten them in Indo orders. (Unless he was mistaken.) In case that helps the focus a bit...

It could be a Oreaster reticulatus

I will have to put my vote in for Echinaster (Othilia) echinophorus.

Is it possable to get a macro of one of the "arms" showing the skin texture and the spines a bit better Emily?

Steve

Thanks for sending me the pic you had Christy :biggrin:

That one is the closest in resemblance for sure.....I can't find anything additional on the species or more pics online - only reseach papers come up for that species...lol

Next time he's cruising, maybe I'll try to grab some macros. Pretty much doubt anyone carries them anyway. I should have bought a bunch then and tried to get them to breed.......doh...

Well it is definitely Not :Oreaster reticulatus
http://www.aquarium.net/0797/0797_2.shtml
http://www.seasky.org/reeflife/image...sh_cushion.jpg

By the way O. reticulatus (<50cm)is also a Caribean species, although the similiar Oreaster occidentalis renamed Pentaceraster cf. cumingi(<20cm) is an Hawaii to Eastern Pacific species. Neither resemble Emily's star. Both are fairly large when compared to Emily's.

I am curious EmilyB and Delphinus, What about this star do you feel is different? Delphinus you mentioned "subtle enough differences", what are they? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I view this as a debate.

As to the store owner saying he thinks it is Indo....I think that was just a standard reply. A majority of store owners/employees are anything but knowledgable, and before every store owner posts a reply to that....notice I said a "majority" not ALL. Anyways It may have come through an LA shipment from QM or a similiar supplier that consolidate shipments from around the world for their availability list.

Even though Emily is probably tired of this debate by now, I too would like to see a closer picture too.



I couldn't get the link to work sorry.
This is what I believe you have:
http://www.nhm.org/guana/bvi-invt/bv...-i03/06x32.htm

Just another possability, the Echinaster (othilia) sentus from Florida, has longer arms that are a little less spiny than thoes of the Echinaster (Othilia) echinophorus.

This is the Echinaster (Othilia) echinophorus.

http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/star.jpg

here is the one you posted (I just want to see them togeather.)
http://www.members.shaw.ca/bhadford1/orangeknobtop.jpg

Steve

Oh, just subtle differences I thought in the size of the "warts." When I was determined to find out what this was, when I was trying to find out, I had discounted that species ID, going on that it was "definitely from Indonesia." But you're right, it was probably a wholesaler who threw it in there. Who knows.

It looks way more like E. echinophorus than E. sentus though. But the more I see more pictures of Echinaster sp. in general the more I think the general shape, and descriptions of habits and behaviours, sound about right.

So EmilyB what do YOU think?

Well, the only other hint I have is that he said he ONLY gets them in when he does his indonesian order and orders red starfish like these below, and the little orange ones just show up mixed in...

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...=23&pCatId=578

Guess I could compare them if I could ever even FIND one.... :lol: