Appearance
''Iconaster longimanus'' has five thin, tapering, flattened arms. It grows to a diameter of about 30 centimetres with a central disc about 10 cm across. It has a marginal row of large plates that resemble mosaic tiles and contrast in colour with the disc. The margin is usually tan with symmetrically arranged dark brown bands and the disc is orange-brown.Distribution
''Iconaster longimanus'' is native to the tropical west and central Indo-Pacific Ocean. Its range includes south eastern Arabia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, the South China Sea, Indonesia and northern and western Australia. It is found at depths of between 6 to 85 metres in deep reef areas. It is common in Singapore where its typical habitat is lower reef slopes and adjoining areas of rubble where it feeds on lithophytes growing on rocks and coral fragments.Behavior
Not a lot is known about the feeding habits of ''Iconaster longimanus'' but it is believed to include in its diet detritus, bacteria, micro-organisms and small benthic invertebrates.This starfish produces large yolky eggs which develop directly into juvenile starfish without an intervening larval stage.
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