Cushion Sea Star in Cozumel
Cushion Sea Star (*Oreaster reticulatus*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it lives, and why lifting one out of the water kills it.
A large thick orange or tan star with a raised, netted, knobbly surface and short blunt arms. Far chunkier than any other Caribbean sea star.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Oreaster reticulatus |
|---|---|
| Group | Echinoderms — Urchins & Sea Stars |
| Typical size | 20–50 cm across |
| Depth range | 1–20 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | Protected species |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
El Cielo is famous for them, and they occur on shallow sand and seagrass at Playa Corona and Molas.
Reliable sites: El Cielo, Playa Corona, Molas Shallow Reef.
Behaviour
Feeds on the film of microorganisms in surface sand and seagrass by everting its stomach onto the substrate.
Commonly Confused With
- Other Caribbean sea stars — Nothing else here is this thick and knobbled.
- Sea biscuits — Sea biscuits are flattened oval urchins buried in sand, not stars.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Do not lift them out of the water. A sea star held in air takes water into its vascular system and can be killed by a single photograph. Lifting starfish at El Cielo is prohibited and is the single most damaging tourist behaviour on that sandbar.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: Caroline Rogers, U.S. Geological Survey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
