Common sea star (Archaster typicus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Asteroidea · Order: Valvatida · Family: Archasteridae · Genus: Archaster.

Accepted name: Archaster typicus · Authority: Müller & Troschel, 1840 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 213119.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Archaster nicobaricus Behn in Möbius, 1859; Astropecten stellaris Gray, 1840.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=213119 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Archaster typicus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Depth range: 0–91 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

SeaLifeBase notes: Juveniles are found in prop roots of mangroves and gradually inhabit sandy shores, seagrass areas and shoals as they age, where they are buried slightly in the sand. Feeds on some detritus, decaying plant materials and tiny invertebrates (Ref. 800).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 86685) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Archaster-typicus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,352 georeferenced occurrence records for Archaster typicus are published through GBIF from 28 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 170 distinct locations from a sample of 1,352 records, omitting 58 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Singapore (274); Philippines (208); Australia (157); New Caledonia (122); Indonesia (111).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2271315) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2271315&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=213119 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Archaster typicus is a five-limbed star with long, slightly tapering arms with pointed tips. Occasionally three, four, or even six-armed individuals occur. Adults grow to 12 to 15 cm in diameter, with males often being smaller than females. This starfish is adapted to life on the sandy seabed, where it buries in the sediment during high tides and moves over the sediment surface during low tides.

The general colour is grey or brownish, variously marked with darker and lighter patches, sometimes forming a chevron pattern. The underside is pale. The body is slightly inflated and there is a whitish madreporite near the centre of the disc. The small armour plates that cover the upper surface of the arms are lined up in neat parallel rows which distinguishes it from the rather similar Astropecten polyacanthus which has similar habits and colouring.

The spines, arranged in a marginal fringe, are short, flat and blunter than A. polyacanthus and the tube feet have suckers and not points.

Distribution and habitat

Archaster typicus is found in the western Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific at depths down to 60 m. The range includes the Maldive Islands, the Bay of Bengal, Singapore, northern Australia, New Caledonia, the Philippines, China, southern Japan and Hawaii. It usually inhabits areas of the seabed with soft sediments including sand, silt and seagrass meadows. Larval settlement occurs among mangroves, while individuals gradually move to seagrass and sandy habitats as they age.

Feeding

Archaster typicus is a detritivore and eats detritus and anything else edible it comes across. To feed, it everts its stomach through its mouth which is situated centrally on its underside. The food item is engulfed and brought inside the starfish when its stomach is returned to its normal position.

Reproduction

Like other starfish, Archaster typicus is a broadcast spawner, the male and female starfish each liberate their gametes into the sea where fertilisation takes place. However, in contrast to most other starfish, Archaster typicus performs pseudocopulation. Specimens reach sexual maturity at a radius of 29 mm. About two months ahead of spawning the starfish begin to congregate, with males in particular becoming more mobile.

A starfish can tell whether another is male or female, probably by chemotactic recognition. On recognizing a female, the male will climb on top of her and may remain there for two months. The female can move about and feed but the male is more restricted in his activities. During this time they synchronize their gonadal activity so that when the female is ready to spawn, so is the male.

When she releases her eggs, he releases his sperm almost simultaneously thereby increasing the chances that successful fertilisation will take place. Mating occurs in September and October in the Philippines and pair densities reach up to 7 pairs per square meter during full moon, whereas during new moon none are found.

Source: Wikipedia: Archaster typicus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaster_typicus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.