RED CUSHION SEA STAR

Oreaster reticulatus

The Red Cushion Sea Stars are the largest species of starfish found in the Caribbean Sea, found in the calm and shallower waters of the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Bahamas. Although commonly referred to as red cushions, they can be colored brown, yellow, and particularly green among camouflaged juveniles within seagrass beds. Their thick bodies can reach a width of 50 cm, their skin studded with dark-coloured spines. They are an omnivorous species, primarily feeding on slow invertebrates or microorganisms.