Pentaceraster cumingi
A tropical Pacific starfish known for its knobby appearance.
The Panamic cushion star, also called the Cortez starfish or knobby star (though that name applies to other species too), is a starfish from the Oreasteridae family. It grows to roughly 30 cm (12 in) across. This species lives in warmer parts of the East Pacific, from the Gulf of California down to northwestern Peru, including offshore islands such as the Galápagos, and it also occurs in Hawaii. In Panama, specimens have been collected at a depth of 8 m in the Pearl Islands, the Gulf of Panama, and near Coiba Island in the Gulf of Chiriqui.
This starfish stays in the shallow subtidal zone, typically on rocky seafloors. It scavenges and hunts for food, eating algae, microscopic organisms, and seagrass from the ocean floor, and occasionally other echinoderms. For reproduction, it can reproduce either sexually or asexually. The species has separate sexes (gonochoric), and asexual reproduction happens through fission, where the central disc splits to create a clone.
The skeleton of this starfish is often collected for decoration and sold as souvenirs in Peru and Mexico. Due to heavy souvenir harvesting, the population in Peru has dropped sharply and is now considered nearly extinct there. The population size in Mexico remains unknown.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Pentaceraster
- Species
- cumingi
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pentaceraster cumingi inhabits the shallow sub-tidal zone along the coasts of the Tropical Eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to northern Peru, and also occurs in Hawaii. In Panama, it has been collected from the Pearl Islands at a depth of 8 m, the Gulf of Panama, and off Coiba Island in the Gulf of Chiriqui. Its skeleton is commonly used for ornamentation and sold as a souvenir in Peru and Mexico. The population in Peru has greatly decreased due to this use, and the species is now considered close to extinction in that country; the population size in Mexico is unknown.
Reader's Guide
Pentaceraster cumingi is notable for its wide distribution across the warmer East Pacific and Hawaii, and for its distinctive knobby appearance. The species plays a role in its ecosystem as a scavenger and carnivore, feeding on algae, microscopic organisms, seagrass, and occasionally other echinoderms. Its reproductive strategy includes both sexual reproduction (with separate sexes) and asexual reproduction by fission, which produces clonal offspring. The species has significant cultural and economic importance in Peru and Mexico, where its skeleton is harvested for use as souvenirs. This exploitation has led to a severe population decline in Peru, where it is now considered close to extinction. The status of the population in Mexico remains unknown. The species is also known by multiple common names, including Panamic cushion star, Cortez starfish, and knobby star, though the latter name is shared with other species.
Did You Know?
- Pentaceraster cumingi reaches a diameter of about 30 cm (12 in).
- It reproduces asexually by fission, splitting the central disc.
- The species is considered close to extinction in Peru due to souvenir collection.
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