Chocolate Chip Starfish Protoreaster nodosus

The Chocolate Chip Starfish, also called the Chocolate Chip Sea Star, is native to warm, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific Oceans.

It has an off-white or pale brown base colour with several dark brown or black lumps or nodules (the chocolate chips). It has five tapering arms (usually) and can reach 30cm (one foot) across. It eats mainly molluscs, sponges and coral. It is over-collected and dried for the souvenir trade.