Metrodira subulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Spinulosida
Family: Echinasteridae
Genus: Metrodira
Species:
M. subulata
Binomial name
Metrodira subulata
Gray, 1840 [1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Fromia subulata Perrier, 1878
  • Linckia subulata Gray, 1840
  • Scaphaster humberti de Loriol, 1899
  • Scytaster subulatus Müller & Troschel, 1842

Metrodira subulata is a species of starfish in the family Echinasteridae. It is found on the seabed in shallow parts of the Indo-Pacific region.

Description

Metrodira subulata has long, slender tapering arms. The aboral (upper) surface has many granulations and large pores. The margins have a row of smooth plates and there are short spines at the junctions of the plates. The colour of the aboral surface is yellowish brown.[2] The spines are red, which contrasts with the sombre body colour and is considered an aposematic trait.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Mah, Christopher (2010). Mah CL (ed.). "Metrodira subulata Gray, 1840". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  2. ↑ Gray, John Edward (1841). "A Synopsis of the Genera and Species of the Class Hypostoma (Asterias, Linnaeus)". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology. Taylor & Francis: 282.
  3. ↑ Inbar, Moshe; Lev-Yadun, Simcha (2005). "Conspicuous and aposematic spines in the animal kingdom". Naturwissenschaften. 92 (4): 170–172. doi:10.1007/s00114-005-0608-2. PMID 15761732.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.