''Astropecten'' is a genus of
sea star
Starfish or sea stars are Star polygon, star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class (biology), class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to brittle star, ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to ...
s of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Astropectinidae
The Astropectinidae are a family of sea stars in the order Paxillosida. Usually, these starfish live on the seabed and immerse themselves in soft sediment such as sand and mud.
They are not to be confused with species in the genus '' Archaster'' ...
.
Identification
![Aculei Astropecten](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Aculei_Astropecten.jpg)
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain determination, in some cases, animals should be analyzed in the laboratory or using genetic testing, but often it isn’t possible. In order to determine the species, with a reasonable margin of error, it’s necessary to observe the appearance of the animal, in particular, based on some typical features described by principal authors that have analyzed over the years a large number of specimens in the laboratory.
The main elements, to determine the various species from photo, are: the appearance of the dorsal marginal plates and spines, the size, the shape of disc and arms. For a good identification by sea photo it is important to take a complete picture of all the subject, a picture of the detail of the marginal plates and to measure as precisely as possible the diameter of the sea star. All this can be done without touching, turning it, or disturbing the animal.
Starfishes have two sides: an upper side called “
aboral
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...
side” (which is normally visible), and a bottom side called “oral side” (which rests on the seabed).
The main elements of starfish genus Astropecten.jpg, General look of an ''Astropecten''
Britannica Echinoderma 16 tagged.png, Cross-section of an arm. 1=papula and paxilla, 2=superomarginal plate, 3=inferomarginal plate, 4=ambulacral plates, 5=adambulacral plate
Astropecten aranciacus Naxos08 1775 dett.jpg, Ossicles of an ''Astropecten aranciacus
''Astropecten aranciacus'', the red comb star, is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. It is native to the east Atlantic Ocean (Portugal to Angola) and Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
''Astropecten aranciacus'' lives very near the ...
''
Astropecten aranciacus.jpg, Armtip of an ''Astropecten aranciacus
''Astropecten aranciacus'', the red comb star, is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. It is native to the east Atlantic Ocean (Portugal to Angola) and Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
''Astropecten aranciacus'' lives very near the ...
''
Species
* ''
Astropecten acanthifer
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family (biology), family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To ...
''
Sladen, 1883
* ''
Astropecten acutiradiatus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Tortonese, 1956
* ''
Astropecten africanus''
Koehler, 1911
* ''
Astropecten alatus''
Perrier, 1875
* ''
Astropecten alligator
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Perrier, 1881
* ''
Astropecten americanus''
Verrill, 1880
* ''
Astropecten anacanthus''
H.L. Clark, 1926
* ''
Astropecten andersoni
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Sladen, 1888
* ''
Astropecten antillensis''
Lütken, 1859
* ''
Astropecten aranciacus
''Astropecten aranciacus'', the red comb star, is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. It is native to the east Atlantic Ocean (Portugal to Angola) and Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
''Astropecten aranciacus'' lives very near the ...
''
(Linnaeus, 1758)
* ''
Astropecten armatus''
Gray, 1840
* ''
Astropecten articulatus''
(Say, 1825)
* ''
Astropecten bandanus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten bengalensis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain d ...
''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten benthophilus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain d ...
''
Ludwig, 1905
* ''
Astropecten bispinosus
''Astropecten bispinosus'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae from the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under ...
''
(Otto, 1823)
* ''
Astropecten brasiliensis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain d ...
''
Müller & Troschel, 1842
* ''
Astropecten brevispinus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Sladen, 1883
* ''
Astropecten carcharicus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family (biology), family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To ...
''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten caribemexicanensis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Caso, 1990
* ''
Astropecten celebensis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten cingulatus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Sladen, 1833
* ''
Astropecten comptus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family (biology), family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To ...
''
Verrill, 1915
* ''
Astropecten debilis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family (biology), family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To ...
''
Koehler, 1910
* ''
Astropecten dubiosus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain d ...
''
Mortensen, 1925
* ''
Astropecten duplicatus
''Astropecten duplicatus'', the two-spined sea star, is a starfish in the family Astropectinidae. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Description
''Astropecten duplicatus'' normally has five long ...
''
Gray, 1840
* ''
Astropecten eremicus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Fisher, 1913
* ''
Astropecten eucnemis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Fisher, 1919
* ''
Astropecten euryacanthus''
Lutken, 1871
* ''
Astropecten exiguus''
Ludwig, 1905
* ''
Astropecten exilis''
Mortensen, 1933
* ''
Astropecten fasciatus''
Doderlein, 1926
* ''
Astropecten formosus''
Sladen, 1878
* ''
Astropecten fragilis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Verrill, 1870
* ''
Astropecten gisselbrechti''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten granulatus''
Müller & Troschel, 1842
* ''
Astropecten griegi''
Koehler, 1909
* ''
Astropecten gruveli''
Koehler, 1911
* ''
Astropecten guineensis''
Koehler, 1911
* ''
Astropecten hawaiiensis''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten hemprichi''
Müller & Troschel, 1842
* ''
Astropecten hermatophilus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Sladen, 1883
* ''
Astropecten huepferi
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Koehler, 1914
* ''
Astropecten ibericus''
Perrier, 1894
* ''
Astropecten imbellis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family (biology), family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To ...
''
Sladen, 1883
* ''
Astropecten indicus''
Doderlein, 1888
* ''
Astropecten inutilis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Koehler, 1910
* ''
Astropecten irregularis
''Astropecten irregularis'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. Common names include Sand sea star (A. i. pontoporeus).Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008.
Habitat and ...
''
(Pennant, 1777)
* ''
Astropecten jarli''
Madsen, 1950
* ''
Astropecten javanicus''
Lutken, 1871
* ''
Astropecten jonstoni''
(Delle Chiaje, 1827)
* ''
Astropecten kagoshimensis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
de Loriol, 1899
* ''
Astropecten latespinosus''
Meissner, 1892
* ''
Astropecten leptus''
H.L. Clark, 1926
* ''
Astropecten liberiensis''
Koehler, 1914
* ''
Astropecten luzonicus''
Fisher, 1913
* ''
Astropecten malayanus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten mamillatus''
Koehler, 1914
* ''
Astropecten marginatus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Gray, 1840
* ''
Astropecten mauritianus''
Gray, 1840
* ''
Astropecten michaelseni
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Koehler, 1914
* ''
Astropecten minadensis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten monacanthus''
Sladen, 1883
* ''
Astropecten nitidus''
Verrill, 1915
* ''
Astropecten novaeguineae''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten nuttingi''
Verrill, 1915
* ''
Astropecten orientalis''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten ornatissimus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain d ...
''
Fisher, 1906
* ''
Astropecten orsinii''
Leipoldt, 1895
* ''
Astropecten pedicellaris
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Fisher, 1913
* ''
Astropecten petalodea
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Retzius, 1805
* ''
Astropecten platyacanthus
''Astropecten platyacanthus'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae.
Habitat and behaviour
Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under sediment during the day. ...
''
(Philippi, 1837)
* ''
Astropecten polyacanthus''
Müller & Troschel, 1842
* ''
Astropecten preissi''
Müller & Troschel, 1843
* ''
Astropecten primigenius''
Mortensen, 1925
* ''
Astropecten productus''
Fisher, 1906
* ''
Astropecten progressor
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten pugnax
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family (biology), family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To ...
''
Koehler, 1910
* ''
Astropecten pulcherrimus''
H.L. Clark, 1938
* ''
Astropecten pusillulus''
Fisher, 1906
* ''
Astropecten pusillus''
Sluiter, 1889
* ''
Astropecten regalis''
Gray, 1840
* ''
Astropecten sanctaehelenae''
Mortensen, 1933
* ''
Astropecten sarasinorum''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten scoparius
''Astropecten scoparius'' is a sea star in the family Astropectinidae. It is found in shallow water in the East China Sea and around the coasts of Japan. It is a grey starfish and each of its five arms has a narrow pale margin. It burrows in the ...
''
Müller & Troschel, 1842
* ''
Astropecten siderialis
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Verrill, 1914
* ''
Astropecten sinicus''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten spiniphorus''
Madsen, 1950
* ''
Astropecten spinulosus''
(Philippi, 1837)
* ''
Astropecten sulcatus''
Ludwig, 1905
* ''
Astropecten sumbawanus''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten tamilicus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Doderlein, 1888
* ''
Astropecten tasmanicus''
H.E.S Clark & D.G. McKnight, 2000
* ''
Astropecten tenellus''
Fisher, 1913
* ''
Astropecten tenuis''
(Bell, 1894)
* ''
Astropecten timorensis''
Doderlein, 1917
* ''
Astropecten triacanthus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family (biology), family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To ...
''
(Goto
GoTo (goto, GOTO, GO TO or other case combinations, depending on the programming language) is a statement found in many computer programming languages. It performs a one-way transfer of control to another line of code; in contrast a function ca ...
, 1914)
* ''
Astropecten triseriatus''
Müller & Troschel, 1843
* ''
Astropecten umbrinus''
Grube, 1866
* ''
Astropecten validispinosus
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
''
Oguro, 1982
* ''
Astropecten vappa''
Müller & Troschel, 1843
* ''
Astropecten variegatus''
Mortensen, 1933
* ''
Astropecten velitaris''
von Martens, 1865
* ''
Astropecten verrilli''
deLoriol, 1899
Astropecten aranciacus Sardegna09 28cm 5520.jpg, ''Astropecten aranciacus
''Astropecten aranciacus'', the red comb star, is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. It is native to the east Atlantic Ocean (Portugal to Angola) and Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
''Astropecten aranciacus'' lives very near the ...
''
Astropectenarmatus.jpg, '' Astropecten armatus''
Purple and Orange Starfish on the Beach (2884079538).jpg, '' Astropecten articulatus''
Astropecten bispinosus Sardegna06 3284.jpg, ''Astropecten bispinosus
''Astropecten bispinosus'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae from the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under ...
''
Astropecten irregularis pentacanthus Sardegna09 17cm 5962.jpg, ''Astropecten irregularis
''Astropecten irregularis'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. Common names include Sand sea star (A. i. pontoporeus).Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008.
Habitat and ...
''
Astropecten jonstoni Naxos08 1832 640x480 dpi90.jpg, '' Astropecten jonstoni''
Astropecten platyacanthus Sardegna09 e cm09 5503.jpg, ''Astropecten platyacanthus
''Astropecten platyacanthus'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae.
Habitat and behaviour
Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under sediment during the day. ...
''
Astropecten polycanthus (Starfish).jpg, '' Astropecten polycanthus''
Astropecten preissei PC260142.JPG, '' Astropecten preissei''
Astropecten spinulosus Croazia09 a 6957.jpg, '' Astropecten spinulosus''
Astropecten lorioli.jpg, ''Astropecten lorioli
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain de ...
'' (extinct, from the Jurassic
The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The J ...
)
Mediterranean species
Six species of Astropecten currently live in the Mediterranean Sea:
*''
Astropecten aranciacus
''Astropecten aranciacus'', the red comb star, is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. It is native to the east Atlantic Ocean (Portugal to Angola) and Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
''Astropecten aranciacus'' lives very near the ...
''
(Linnaeus, 1758)
*''
Astropecten bispinosus
''Astropecten bispinosus'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae from the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under ...
''
(Otto, 1823)
*''
Astropecten irregularis
''Astropecten irregularis'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. Common names include Sand sea star (A. i. pontoporeus).Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008.
Habitat and ...
''
(Pennant, 1777)
*''
Astropecten jonstoni''
(Delle Chiaje, 1825)
*''
Astropecten platyacanthus
''Astropecten platyacanthus'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae.
Habitat and behaviour
Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under sediment during the day. ...
''
(Philippi, 1837)
*''
Astropecten spinulosus''
(Philippi, 1837)
References
Roberto Pillon (2009). Astropecten of the Mediterranean Sea* Koehler, Réné. 1921. ''Faune de France. Echinodermes''.
* Tortonese, Enrico. 1965. ''Fauna d'Italia. Echinodermata''.
* Tortonese, Enrico. 1934. ''Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale Giacomo Doria (Volume 57)''.
* Emil Edler Von Marenzeller (1875). ''Revision adriatischer Seesterne''.
* Ludwig, Hubert. 1897. ''Die Seesterne des Mittelmeeres. Zoologischen station zu Neapel''.
* Ludwig Heinrich Philipp Döderlein. 1921. ''Die Asteriden der Siboga-Expedition''.
*
External links
Downloadable WoRMS: Roberto Pillon (2009). Astropecten of the Mediterranean SeaDownloadable WoRMS: Roberto Pillon (2009). Orientarsi in un mare di stelleWoRMSJaselli, Luca. “REDESCRIPTION AND FIRST ILLUSTRATION OF THE HOLOTYPE OF ASTROPECTEN MONTALIONIS (MENEGHINI, 1852) [PAXILLOSIDA: ASTROPECTINIDAE” Atti della Societa Toscana di Scienze Naturali (2018)]
{{Taxonbar, from=Q665985
Astropecten,
Taxa named by John Edward Gray