Tamaria stria
(Downey, 1975)
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Description
An uncommon species with typically 5 cylindrical arms tapering slightly. Specimen with 6 or even 7 arms have been observed. The animal alive is purple, particularly when lit with an underwater light source that add red wavelengths to the ambiance light and reaches 25-30 cm in diameter. So far this species has been found in the lower part of the reef, below most of the corals.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Distribution
In Oman, this purple starfish has been photographed a few times near Muscat.
The species was originally described from Malpelo island in the Eastern Pacific. It is thus unlikely that this is the same species and we may have here an undescribed starfish.
The species was originally described from Malpelo island in the Eastern Pacific. It is thus unlikely that this is the same species and we may have here an undescribed starfish.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Ecology and Biology
Unusual. I have seen this species near muscat and on the north face of the Daymaniyat Islands. The few specimens photographed where all below 10 m in depth and the deepest near 30m.