**”Researchers in Japan have unveiled a remarkable new sea star species, named Paragonaster hoeimaruae, thanks to an unprecedented collaboration among scientists, fishers, and aquarium and museum staff. This striking starfish, belonging to the family Pseudarchasteridae, boasts a vibrant red and beige coloration, five arms, and measures just over 10 centimeters in diameter. The discovery underscores the vital role of teamwork in exploring the ocean’s diverse life forms.
While commonly known as starfish, these creatures are not true fish. They are more closely related to sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Despite their seemingly passive appearance when stranded on a beach, starfish are essential marine predators, with some species possessing up to 50 arms and spanning a meter or more in length, living for decades.
With around 2,000 starfish species identified globally, the new addition to the family Pseudarchasteridae marks a significant find. Previously, only four species from this family had been recorded in Japanese waters.
Lead researcher Itaru Kobayashi from the Misaki Marine Biological Station at the University of Tokyo explained, “We discovered Paragonaster hoeimaruae off the Izu Peninsula in Sagami Bay and another specimen in the Sea of Japan near Yamaguchi Prefecture. These starfish were found at depths ranging from 150 to 350 meters, characterized by their well-proportioned bodies, five arms, and a beautiful red and beige color scheme.”
The team collected various species across Japan from 2021 to 2023, utilizing shrimp and crab cages and beam trawl surveys conducted by a Yamaguchi fisheries research ship. The new species’ name, “hoeimaruae,” honors the Hoei-maru fishing vessel that first collected the specimen.
Additionally, the team identified other noteworthy starfish, including the impressive Gephyreaster swifti, a 30-centimeter-wide starfish found off Hokkaido’s northern coast. Previously, this species was only known from the Pacific’s west coast, extending from the United States and Canada to the Bering Sea.
Kobayashi noted, “With around 250 starfish species around Japan, it was surprising to find such a large species previously overlooked. Our research highlights the underestimated diversity of Japan’s marine life and demonstrates the crucial importance of collaborative efforts between fishers, aquariums, universities, and research institutions in uncovering the mysteries of our oceans and their biodiversity.”**