[7][8] The red-knobbed starfish can only be found in the Indian Ocean, mostly along the African coast and Madagascar, north to India and Sri Lanka.

[9] They prefer sandy or muddy seabeds because it is easier for them to search and forage for food.

While they are most often seen in shallow tidal pools, they can live in a variety of depths, down to 100 m (330 ft) deep.

[10] Red-knobbed starfish are carnivorous animals that eat a number of sea creatures.

[11] It is a popular aquarium specimen, but is considered incompatible with many other invertebrates, as it will eat soft corals, sponges, tube worms, clams, other starfish, and the like.