Orthasterias is a genus of sea stars in the familyAsteriidae. Orthasterias koehleri, the rainbow star or red-banded sea star, is the only species in the genus. It is found in the North Pacific Ocean.
The rainbow star is a large starfish, growing to a diameter of about 50 centimetres (20 in) with an arm length of 21 centimetres (8.3 in). It usually has five slender tapering arms and the aboral (upper) surface is pink or red with irregular patches or bands of darker red, orange or grey. The surface is covered with sharp white or mauve spines, each surrounded by a ring of pedicellariae, tiny pincer-like organs.[3][4]
Distribution and habitatedit
The rainbow star is found in northern parts of the Pacific Ocean with its range extending from California to Alaska at depths down to about 250 metres (820 ft).[3] It also occurs in mid-ocean on knolls and seamounts.[1] It is an uncommon species and is usually found on soft bottoms of mud or sand, or on kelp or rock surfaces.[3]
Biologyedit
The rainbow star is a predator and feeds on a range of invertebrates including gastropod molluscs, limpets, bivalves, brachiopods, chitons, barnacles and tunicates.[4] In Alaska, it especially favours the ribbed clam Humilaria kennerleyi.[5] It can dig up clams buried in the substrate and force the valves apart with the suction provided by its tube feet. It then everts part of its stomach, thrusting a fold inside the bivalve and excreting digestive enzymes onto the tissues. When these have liquefied sufficiently, the stomach engulfs them and is returned to its normal position inside the starfish.[3][6]
The rainbow star is sometimes attacked by a voracious predator, the morning sun star (Solaster dawsoni). It attempts to defend itself by winding its arms round the attacker and nipping it with its thousands of pedicellariae.[7]
Referencesedit
^ abcMah, C. (2012). Mah CL (ed.). "Orthasterias koehleri (deLoriol, 1897)". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
^Mah, C., Hansson, H. (2012). Mah CL (ed.). "Orthasterias Verrill, 1914". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
^ abMcDonald Gary (2010). . Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California. Archived from the original on 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
^"Redbanded Sea Star, Orthasterias koehleri and the Blood Star, Henricia leviuscula". Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
^Dorit, R. L.; Walker, W. F.; Barnes, R. D. (1991). Zoology. Saunders College Publishing. p. 782. ISBN0-03-030504-7.
^. Sea stars of the Pacific Northwest. 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
April 15, 2024
orthasterias, genus, stars, family, asteriidae, koehleri, rainbow, star, banded, star, only, species, genus, found, north, pacific, ocean, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, echinodermataclass, asteroideaorder, forcipulatidafam. Orthasterias is a genus of sea stars in the family Asteriidae Orthasterias koehleri the rainbow star or red banded sea star is the only species in the genus It is found in the North Pacific Ocean OrthasteriasScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum EchinodermataClass AsteroideaOrder ForcipulatidaFamily AsteriidaeGenus OrthasteriasVerrill 1867 2 Species O koehleriBinomial nameOrthasterias koehleri deLoriol 1897 1 Synonyms 1 Asterias koehleride Loriol 1897 Orthasterias biordinataVerrill 1914 Orthasterias columbianaVerrill 1914 Orthasterias leptostylaFisher 1928 Orthasterias montereyensisFisher 1928 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Biology 4 ReferencesDescription editThe rainbow star is a large starfish growing to a diameter of about 50 centimetres 20 in with an arm length of 21 centimetres 8 3 in It usually has five slender tapering arms and the aboral upper surface is pink or red with irregular patches or bands of darker red orange or grey The surface is covered with sharp white or mauve spines each surrounded by a ring of pedicellariae tiny pincer like organs 3 4 Distribution and habitat editThe rainbow star is found in northern parts of the Pacific Ocean with its range extending from California to Alaska at depths down to about 250 metres 820 ft 3 It also occurs in mid ocean on knolls and seamounts 1 It is an uncommon species and is usually found on soft bottoms of mud or sand or on kelp or rock surfaces 3 Biology editThe rainbow star is a predator and feeds on a range of invertebrates including gastropod molluscs limpets bivalves brachiopods chitons barnacles and tunicates 4 In Alaska it especially favours the ribbed clam Humilaria kennerleyi 5 It can dig up clams buried in the substrate and force the valves apart with the suction provided by its tube feet It then everts part of its stomach thrusting a fold inside the bivalve and excreting digestive enzymes onto the tissues When these have liquefied sufficiently the stomach engulfs them and is returned to its normal position inside the starfish 3 6 The rainbow star is sometimes attacked by a voracious predator the morning sun star Solaster dawsoni It attempts to defend itself by winding its arms round the attacker and nipping it with its thousands of pedicellariae 7 References edit a b c Mah C 2012 Mah CL ed Orthasterias koehleri deLoriol 1897 World Asteroidea database World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 2012 09 22 Mah C Hansson H 2012 Mah CL ed Orthasterias Verrill 1914 World Asteroidea database World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 2012 09 22 a b c d Orthasterias koehleri Race Rocks Taxonomy 2002 Retrieved 2012 09 22 a b McDonald Gary 2010 Orthasterias koehleri de Loriol 1897 Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area California Archived from the original on 2010 06 08 Retrieved 2012 09 23 Redbanded Sea Star Orthasterias koehleri and the Blood Star Henricia leviuscula Alaska Fisheries Science Center Retrieved 2012 09 23 Dorit R L Walker W F Barnes R D 1991 Zoology Saunders College Publishing p 782 ISBN 0 03 030504 7 Morning sun star Solaster dawsoni Sea stars of the Pacific Northwest 2011 Archived from the original on 2012 09 09 Retrieved 2012 09 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orthasterias amp oldid 1187885763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
