The Chocolate Chip sea star is a somewhat hardy echinoderm. The starfish quite enjoys the sea grass beds and sandy beaches of warm, shallow sea water ranging from Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Red Sea areas. The Chocolate Chip Starfish was among the first animals to achieve a formal scientific name, having been named by Linnaeus himself in 1758. It also needs a lot of space because it can grow up to 15 inches in size. You also need to provide it with a sand bed that is several inches deep. Like a chocolate chip cookie, this sea star has dark brown pointy horns shaped like chocolate chips all over the top of it for protection. The dark bumps vary in size, color and placement between individuals. It is often called a … Isostichopus (Stichopus) badionotus: Cucumber : Thyone pseudofusus: top of page. ... Common Name Scientific Name; Purple-spined Sea Urchin. Updated September 23, 2018 Author: Mike - FishLore Admin Social Media:. A large aquarium with open access to a mature sand bed several inches in depth best recreates the preferred habitat of the Chocolate Chip Sea Star. The Chocolate Chip Sea Star is also called The "Horned" Sea Star. Isostichopus badionotus, also known as the chocolate chip cucumber or the cookie dough sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Stichopodidae.This common species is found in warm parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Chocolate Chip Sea Star As a general rule, starfish with smooth skin work well in reef tanks, but starfish with knobby or spiny skin will harm sessile (immobile) invertebrates. The Chocolate Chip Sea Star is a highly-recognizable ornamental sea star that boasts instant appeal. The starfish can't see any shape, color, or details. This species goes by many names, including the cushion sea star or doughboy star, for obvious reasons. Chocolate chip starfish in the Galapagos Islands. The chocolate chip starfish (Protoreaster nodosus) is a good example. Learn the scientific name, discover the habitat, diet and special characteristics of the Chocolate Chip Sea Star with the Georgia Aquarium. It should be kept in a large aquarium housing mild-mannered fish. The Chocolate Chip Sea Star is a highly-recognizable ornamental sea star that boasts instant appeal. The Chocolate Chip Sea Star is very hardy and makes a great and inexpensive detrivore for fish only aquariums. The dark bumps vary in size, color and placement between individuals. The egg and sperm join and produce many tiny sea stars which float in the water like little blobs that later form into a star shape. Protoreaster belongs to the Oreasteridae, a taxonomically diverse family of sea stars which lives exclusively in the tropics. In order to ingest the food, the sea star extends its stomach over its food that secretes digestive enzymes to break the food down before being engulfed.