Tessellated Cushion Star
| Name: | Tessellated Cushion Star |
| Scientific Name: | Goniaster tessellatus |
| Family: | Sea Stars |
| Taxonomic: | Goniasteridae |
| ID Group: | Sea Stars, Urchins, Cucumbers |
| Size: | up to 6 in. |
| Depth Range: | Various depths (0 – 130 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen very rarely |
This Sea Star has a flat body with five short, wide arms and a central disc. Its surface is covered with cone-shaped bumps, and the edges of its body have raised, rounded nodules.
The Tessellated Cushion Star lives on rocky or sandy bottoms. Its name comes from the star's patterned surface, which resembles a mosaic or tessellation.