|
|
Giant basket star
Astrophyton muricatum
(Lamarck, 1816)
Code
Summary
Saltwater. Basket Stars. During the day, it curls up into a tight ball
shape to protect itself from predators. At night, it climbs to an
elevated point to feed by extending its intricately branched feeding
arms in a bowl-like shape in order to snare passing plankton and other
organisms from the current.
To be confused with
- Black and White Crinoid Nemaster grandis
Characteristics
Size: 100 cm, when its arms are fully extended.
Colour: Generally brown or black.
Shape: It has a central disc and eight slender, flexible arms that repeatedly divide to form a fine-meshed net-like structure.
Habitat environment and ecology
Inhabits coral reefs. The giant basket star is a very large echinoderm
that can reach a diameter of nearly a metre when its arms are fully
extended. It has a central disc and eight slender, flexible arms that
repeatedly divide to form a fine-meshed net-like structure. The colour
is generally brown or black.
Distribution range
St. Eustatius. BES-eilanden.
Author
[Marion Haarsma, march 2015]
Literature
- Humann, P., & DeLoach, N. (2002). Reef Creature Identification:
Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (p. 420). Jacksonville (FL): New World
Publications.
Commentaar
Grafieken