A species of starfish found in Australia’s top end is turning heads with its risque appearance.

A photo of the bizarre echinoderms which closely resembles the male genitalia was uploaded to Reddit where it has been viewed – and considered – by more than 44,300 people.

The starfish is seen resting on the ocean floor and turned upwards, with social media users nicknaming it ‘Cocktopus’ and ‘Pornstar’.

The echinoderm has five arms and each end has eyebrow-raising, bulbous tips.

A starfish is turning heads with its risque appearance closely resembling male genitalia

Social media users were quick to point out the uncanny resemblance of the tips to the male anatomy.

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The starfish is known as the Choriaster Granulatus and can grow to about 27cm.

Its rounded tips and chubby appearance has inspired its second name as ‘the doughboy starfish’.

Choriaster granulatus typically has a pink colour and brown papillae in the centre. 

The species is found in tropical waters across the world including East Africa, the Indo-Pacific region, Great Barrier Reef, Red Sea, Vanuatu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. 

The species typically feeds on algae, detritus, dead animals, coral polyps and small invertebrates.  

They live in shallow water but can live as deep as 40metres below sea surface.

They are normally found around coral reefs or resting on rubble slopes.