Icon star (Iconaster longimanus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Iconaster longimanus, the icon star or double star, is a species of starfish in the family Goniasteridae. It is found in the west and central Indo-Pacific Ocean. The genus name comes from the Greek eikon, meaning portrait or image and possibly referring to the way the marginal plates frame the disc, and aster, meaning star. The specific name comes from the Latin longus manus and refers to the long, slender arms.
- Scientific name
- Iconaster longimanus
- Authority
- (Möbius, 1859)
- Family
- Goniasteridae
- Order
- Valvatida
- Depth range
- 5–230 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 580
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Asteroidea · Order: Valvatida · Family: Goniasteridae · Genus: Iconaster.
Accepted name: Iconaster longimanus · Authority: (Möbius, 1859) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 254823.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Archaster lucifer Valenciennes in Perrier, 1875; Astrogonium longimanus Möbius, 1859; Astrogonium souleyeti Dujardin & Hupé, 1862; Dorigona longimana (Möbius, 1859); Goniaster longimanus (Möbius, 1859); Pentagonaster longimanus (Möbius, 1859).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=254823 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Iconaster longimanus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Depth range: 5–230 m · Habitat zone: benthic.
SeaLifeBase notes: This species is found in lower reef slopes and adjacent seabed on hard bottoms. It is known to feed on epilithic growth (Ref. 85384).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 138708) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Iconaster-longimanus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
580 georeferenced occurrence records for Iconaster longimanus are published through GBIF from 6 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 110 distinct locations from a sample of 580 records, omitting 6 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: Australia (472); Singapore (88); Philippines (8); Indonesia (6); Malaysia (5); Papua New Guinea (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2271744) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2271744&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=254823 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Iconaster longimanus has five thin, tapering, flattened arms. It grows to a diameter of about 30 cm with a central disc about 10 cm across. It has a marginal row of large plates that resemble mosaic tiles and contrast in colour with the disc. The margin is usually tan with symmetrically arranged dark brown bands and the disc is orange-brown.
Iconaster longimanus is native to the tropical west and central Indo-Pacific Ocean. Its range includes south eastern Arabia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, the South China Sea, Indonesia and northern and western Australia. It is found at depths of between 6 and 85 m in deep reef areas. It is common in Singapore where its typical habitat is lower reef slopes and adjoining areas of rubble where it feeds on lithophytes growing on rocks and coral fragments.
Not a lot is known about the feeding habits of Iconaster longimanus but it is believed to include in its diet detritus, bacteria, micro-organisms and small benthic invertebrates.
This starfish produces large yolky eggs which develop directly into juvenile starfish without an intervening larval stage.
Source: Wikipedia: Iconaster longimanus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconaster_longimanus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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