Nardoa galatheae
(Lütken, 1864)
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Description
This species of Nardoa has the same pattern as N. variolata but the dots are almost the same dark brown color as the background. The species is also called brown mesh starfish. It is all known from the Central Indo-Pacific but there are a few records from the Western Indian Ocean.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Distribution
Only one specimen has been observed and photographed here in Oman, near Sadh.
Elsewhere, the species is known from the Central Indopacific (Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia) and from a few photograph in the Western Indian Ocean (Kenya).
Elsewhere, the species is known from the Central Indopacific (Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia) and from a few photograph in the Western Indian Ocean (Kenya).
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Ecology and Biology
With only one observation so far, this species is rare. The disjointed distribution between the central Indopacific and the Western and now Northern Indian Ocean suggests perhaps two very similar species. The specimen from Oman had very little taper along the arms, which is somewhat different from the observations in the Central Indo-Pacific.