''Stephanasterias albula'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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 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 ...

Asteriidae. It is the only species in its

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 ...

, ''Stephanasterias'', which was described by Verrill in 1871. It has a

circumboreal The Circumboreal Region in phytogeography is a floristic region within the Holarctic Kingdom in Eurasia and North America, as delineated by such geobotanists as Josias Braun-Blanquet and Armen Takhtajan. It is the largest floristic region in t ...

distribution and is found in the north west Atlantic Ocean, the north east Pacific Ocean, the Barents Sea and European waters. It usually has eight arms and is white with a rough upper surface. It has been trawled from depths of 267 metres.

Biology

''Stephanasterias albula'' is an omnivore, predator and scavenger. Reproduction is by fission. A crack develops across the disc and the animal divides into two halves. New arms develop on the injured surfaces. A lack of any juvenile or young specimens found leads to the view that there is no larval recruitment and that this species is one of very few sea star species that reproduces primarily by dividing.

References

Asteriidae Monotypic echinoderm genera Asteroidea genera Taxa named by Addison Emery Verrill {{Asteroidea-stub