''Astropecten'' is a genus of

sea star Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish a ...

s of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

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 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.jpg, Armtip of an '' Astropecten aranciacus''

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'' (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 d ...

'' 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 d ...

'' Sladen, 1883 * ''

Astropecten carcharicus ''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 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 d ...

'' 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 d ...

'' 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 d ...

'' Sladen, 1833 * '' Astropecten comptus'' 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'' 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'' (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'' (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'' 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, 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'' Astropectenarmatus.jpg, '' Astropecten armatus'' Purple and Orange Starfish on the Beach (2884079538).jpg, '' Astropecten articulatus'' Astropecten bispinosus Sardegna06 3284.jpg, ''

'' Astropecten irregularis pentacanthus Sardegna09 17cm 5962.jpg, '' Astropecten irregularis'' Astropecten jonstoni Naxos08 1832 640x480 dpi90.jpg, '' Astropecten jonstoni'' Astropecten platyacanthus Sardegna09 e cm09 5503.jpg, '' Astropecten platyacanthus'' 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 geologic period and 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 Jurassic constitutes the middle period of ...

)

Mediterranean species

Six species of Astropecten currently live in the Mediterranean Sea: *'' Astropecten aranciacus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *''

'' (Otto, 1823) *'' Astropecten irregularis'' (Pennant, 1777) *'' Astropecten jonstoni'' (Delle Chiaje, 1825) *'' Astropecten platyacanthus'' (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 Sea

Downloadable WoRMS: Roberto Pillon (2009). Orientarsi in un mare di stelle

WoRMS

Jaselli, 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