Researchers collect ‘real-life Patrick Star’ specimen in Davao del Norte

REAL-LIFE PATRICK STAR. The Catala’s sea star or heavy starfish is one of the specimens collected by researchers of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on the islands of Samal and Talicud in Davao del Norte last July 10 to 24, 2024. (Photo courtesy of PCG/NMP)

By Brian Jules Campued

Of course, kids and the young-at-heart surely know who lives in a pineapple under the sea—and his lazy and slow-witted, pink starfish buddy who resides under a rock. But did you know that there is a “real-life Patrick Star” in the Philippines?

Researchers from the Zoology Division of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), along with the Marine Science Investigation Force (MISF) of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), conducted marine research on the islands of Samal and Talicud in Davao del Norte last July 10 to 24.

Among the specimens gathered by the researchers is a Catala’s sea star—already the second in the NMP’s care after the first starfish was collected in Anini-y, Antique in February last year.

Called the Catala’s sea star or heavy starfish, the Thromidia catalai is one of the heftiest starfish in the world—weighing up to six kilograms and growing 70 centimeters. It can be found buried at least 10 meters deep in the sand or coral reefs in the western Indo-Pacific Region.

The Catala’s sea star’s whole body is colored pink while each of its five tips is cinnamon-brown.

According to the NMP, the starfish specimen will be included in the natural history exhibitions of its Davao and Iloilo museums in the coming months. – iro

Popular

PBBM: No ‘political advantage’ behind disclosure of flood control mess in SONA 2025

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet In the fifth episode of the BBM Podcast aired on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shared his insights on the...

PBBM touts education as the key towards national, social progress

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “Every project, every policy, every program, every peso must move the needle for Filipino families.” Halfway through his term as the country’s...

On Teachers’ Month, DepEd notes good news for teachers

By Brian Campued As the Philippines joins the global community in honoring the invaluable contributions of teachers in shaping the next generation’s leaders and professionals,...

Phivolcs identifies fault that caused magnitude 6.9 Cebu quake

By Brian Campued State seismologists have located the source of the powerful offshore earthquake that jolted northern Cebu and the rest of Visayas on Sept....