Parvulastra exigua
Parvulastra exigua | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Asteroidea |
Order: | Valvatida |
Family: | Asterinidae |
Genus: | Parvulastra |
Species: | P. exigua
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Binomial name | |
Parvulastra exigua (Lamarck, 1816)
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Synonyms[1] | |
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Parvulastra exigua, or the dwarf cushion star[2] is a species of sea star in the family Asterinidae.[1] It can be found in temperate intertidal marine communities from geographically widespread sites around the southern hemisphere (including South Africa and Australia).[2]
Description
[edit]Parvulastra exigua has pentagonal body with no obvious protruding arms. Dorsal surface is tiled with a small cluster of spines at each tile. Colour is variegated, with bright patterns in orange, brown, green and white.[2]
Distribution
[edit]Parvulastra exigua is found from Namibia to Mozambique on intertidal zones up to 3 m, on St Helena, St Paul, and southeastern Australia.[2]
Natural history
[edit]Parvulastra exigua occurs in the intertidal zone and slightly deeper, and is well camouflaged. It feeds on microscopic algae by everting stomach onto substrate. No planktonic larval stage is present.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mah CL, ed. (2022). "Parvulastra exigua (Lamarck, 1816)". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9