''Thromidia'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
starfish
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 ...
in the family
Mithrodiidae
The Mithrodiidae is a family of starfish in the order Valvatida.
Members of this family are big to huge tropical sea stars with 5 arms, rounded in cross-section.
List of genera and species
* Genus '' Mithrodia'' Gray, 1840
** '' Mithrodia br ...
.
[
]
Description and characteristics
These are unusually massive sea stars with five sausage-shaped arms, containing probably the heaviest species of Asteroidea, up to 6 kg.
Species
There are four recognized species according to World Register of Marine Species
The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms.
Content
The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialist ...
:[
* '' Thromidia brycei'' Marsh, 2009 – Western Australia
* '']Thromidia catalai
''Thromidia catalai'', sometimes called the heavy starfish, is a species of starfish in the family Mithrodiidae in the order Valvatida. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. ''Thromidia catalai'' is one of the largest and heaviest starfishes i ...
'' Pope & Rowe, 1977 – West Pacific
* '' Thromidia gigas'' (Mortensen, 1935) – South-west Indian ocean
* ''Thromidia seychellesensis
''Thromidia seychellesensis'' is a species of starfish of the Mithrodiidae
The Mithrodiidae is a family of starfish in the order Valvatida.
Members of this family are big to huge tropical sea stars with 5 arms, rounded in cross-section.
Li ...
'' Pope & Rowe, 1977 – Seychelles
References
Mithrodiidae
Asteroidea genera
{{Asteroidea-stub