It has a small central disc and five spatulate arms, tapering very little and with rounded tips.

[3] In Florida, Echinaster echinophorus spawns in late spring and early summer.

Two types of egg are produced, some being dark-coloured and planktonic while others are bright orange and immediately sink to the seabed.

[4] These soon start to develop into modified brachiolaria larvae, which have larval arms and attach with a sucker.

[4] A study testing secondary metabolites obtained from Echinaster echinophorus found an extract from its tissues showed activity against Leishmania amazonensis, the protozoan parasite causing the tropical skin disease leishmaniasis, and it was not toxic to the mice on which it was tested.