The Oreasteridae are a family 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 in the class Asteroidea.
Description and characteristics
This family contains many species of regular starfishes with usually 5 arms around a stiff, convex and often brightly colored body. Whereas some species are very easy to identify, like the "pincushion seastars" (''
Culcita sp.''), some other can be difficult to tell apart.
Selected genera
: List source :
[
* genus '' Acheronaster'' H.E.S. Clark, 1982 -- 1 species
* genus '' Anthaster'' Döderlein, 1915 -- 1 species
* genus '' Anthenea'' Gray, 1840 -- 22 species
* genus '' Astrosarkus'' Mah, 2003 -- 1 species
* genus '' Bothriaster'' Döderlein, 1916 -- 1 species][Probably just the juvenile form of '' Choriaster''.]
* genus '' Choriaster'' Lutken, 1869 -- 1 species
* genus '' Culcita'' Agassiz, 1836 -- 3 species
* genus '' Goniodiscaster'' H.L. Clark, 1909 -- 14 species
* genus '' Gymnanthenea'' H.L. Clark, 1938 -- 2 species
* genus ''Halityle
''Halityle regularis'', commonly known as the mosaic cushion star, is a species of sea star in the family Oreasteridae. It is the sole species in the genus ''Halityle''.
Distribution
The mosaic cushion star is found in the Western Central Pacifi ...
'' Fisher, 1913 -- 1 species
* genus '' Monachaster'' Döderlein, 1916 -- 1 species
* genus '' Nectriaster'' H.L. Clark, 1946 -- 1 species
* genus '' Nidorellia'' Gray, 1840 -- 1 species
* genus '' Oreaster'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 -- 2 species
* genus '' Pentaceraster'' Döderlein, 1916 -- 14 species
* genus '' Pentaster'' Döderlein, 1935 -- 2 species
* genus '' Poraster'' Döderlein, 1916 -- 1 species
* genus ''Protoreaster
''Protoreaster'' is a genus of sea stars in the family Oreasteridae from the Indo-Pacific. They are sometimes seen in the marine aquarium trade.
Species
The following species are in the genus:
Bibliography
*
References
Oreasteridae ...
'' Döderlein, 1916 -- 3 species
* genus '' Pseudanthenea'' Döderlein, 1915 -- 1 species
* genus '' Pseudoreaster'' Verrill, 1899 -- 1 species
Image:Anthaster valvulatus P1192613.JPG, '' Anthaster valvulatus''
Image:Cake sea star (Anthenea aspera) 2.jpg, '' Anthenea aspera''
Image:Astrosarkus idipi.jpg, '' Astrosarkus idipi'' (dried, MNHN
The French National Museum of Natural History, known in French as the ' (abbreviation MNHN), is the national natural history museum of France and a ' of higher education part of Sorbonne Universities. The main museum, with four galleries, is loca ...
)
Image:Oreasteridae - Choriaster granulatus.jpg, '' Choriaster granulatus''
Image:CulcitanovguineaeJI1.jpg, ''Culcita novaeguineae
''Culcita novaeguineae'' (common name, cushion star) is a species of starfish. It has short arms and an inflated appearance and resembles a pentagonal pincushion. It is variable in colour and can be found in tropical warm waters in the Indo-Paci ...
''
Image:Biscuit sea star (Goniodiscaster scaber) 3.jpg, '' Goniodiscaster scabra''
Image:Spiny sea star (Gymnanthenea laevis).jpg, '' Gymnanthenea laevis''
Image:Halityle regularis.jpg, '' Halityle regularis''
Image:Monachaster sanderi.jpg, '' Monachaster sanderi''
Image:BIOL. RESULTS ENDEAVOUR, Vol. IV, part I. Plate X Nectriaster monacanthus.jpg, '' Nectriaster monacanthus''
Image:Chocolate Chip Starfish.jpg, '' Nidorellia armata''
Image:Oreaster reticulatus (reticulated starfish) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 2.jpg, '' Oreaster reticulatus''
Image:Star Attraction.jpg, '' Pentaceraster cumingi''
Image:Pentaster obtusatus.jpg, '' Pentaster obtusatus''
Image:Protoreaster nodosus.jpg, '' Protoreaster nodosus''
Image:Plate 6 (Clark, 1938).jpg, '' Pseudoreaster obtusangulus''
References
External links
* .
Echinoderm families
{{Asteroidea-stub