Two-Spined Sea Star

Astropecten duplicatus

Astropecten duplicatus is a starfish characterized by its five long, slender arms that taper to a point and are flattened from top to bottom. The upper surface features a row of large marginal plates, each often adorned with a conical spine, while the underside displays numerous fine blunt spinules. This species typically reaches a diameter of about 20 cm (8 in), with an aboral surface that can be pale grey or reddish-brown and an oral surface that appears pale brown or orange. This sea star inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, with a range extending from Cape Hatteras, Florida, to Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana. It prefers sandy or soft sediment environments and can also be found in seagrass meadows at depths reaching up to 500 metres (1,600 ft). During the day, Astropecten duplicatus often buries itself in the sediment, emerging at night to hunt for bivalve molluscs and gastropods, which it captures using its arms and swallows whole. Reproduction in Astropecten duplicatus can occur both sexually and asexually. The species is known to produce planktonic larvae that eventually metamorphose into juvenile sea stars. Encountering this species while diving can be intriguing, as they often blend into their sandy surroundings, requiring careful observation to spot them. The conservation status of Astropecten duplicatus has not been evaluated by the IUCN.