Pteraster militaris is a robust starfish with a wide disc, a large central pore and five short, wrinkled, triangular arms. The aboral (upper) surface is dotted with papulae, each topped with four short spines and above this is a papery covering giving the starfish an inflated, bulky appearance. It grows to a diameter of 85 millimetres (3.3 in) and is usually orange, pale yellow or white, sometimes with red tips to its arms.[2]
Distributionedit
Pteraster militaris is found in rocky habitats in water down to a depth of 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) in the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea, the north west Pacific Ocean as far south as Oregon, the Barents Sea and the north east and north west Atlantic Ocean.[1][3]
Biologyedit
Pteraster militaris feeds on various species of sponge including the cloud sponge (Aphrocallistes vastus) and the white reticulated sponge (Iophon cheliferum) and also on hydrozoans such as the pink branching hydrocoral (Stylaster norvigicus) and the purple encrusting hydrocoral (Stylantheca).[3]
Pteraster militaris is unusual among starfishes in that it broods some of its young. About forty fertilised eggs are retained in the water-filled chamber below its papery outer skin and these develop into juveniles that may reach 1 cm (0.4 in) across before they make their way out through the central pore.[4] Eggs that are too numerous to be brooded are released direct into the sea where they become planktonic larvae.[4] The brooded juveniles seem to behave as ectoparasites of the female, feeding on maternal tissues in the brood chamber. They may also eat dead embryos, faecal material and mucus.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcMah, Christopher (2013). Mah CL (ed.). "Pteraster militaris (O.F. Müller, 1776)". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
^Kåre Telnes (2013-03-16). "Sea Star - Pteraster militaris". The Marine Flora & Fauna of Norway. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
^ abNeil McDaniel. "Wrinkled Star". Sea stars of the Pacific Northwest. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
^ abMcClary, Daniel J.; Mladenov, Philip V. (1989). "Reproductive pattern in the brooding and broadcasting sea star Pteraster militaris". Marine Biology. 103 (4): 531–540. doi:10.1007/BF00399585. ISSN 0025-3162.
^McClary, Daniel J.; Mladenov, Philip V. (1990). "Brooding biology of the sea star Pteraster militaris (O.F. Müller): energetic and histological evidence for nutrient translocation to brooded juveniles". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 142 (3): 183–199. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(90)90090-Y.
January 01, 1970
pteraster, militaris, wrinkled, star, species, starfish, family, pterasteridae, found, northern, pacific, ocean, arctic, ocean, barents, northern, atlantic, ocean, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, echinodermata, class, . Pteraster militaris the wrinkled star is a species of starfish in the family Pterasteridae It is found in the northern Pacific Ocean the Arctic Ocean the Barents Sea and the northern Atlantic Ocean Pteraster militaris Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Echinodermata Class Asteroidea Order Velatida Family Pterasteridae Genus Pteraster Species P militaris Binomial name Pteraster militarisO F Muller 1776 1 Synonyms 1 Asterias militarisO F Muller 1776 Asteriscus militarisMuller amp Troschel 1842 Pteraster aporusLudwig 1886 Pterasterides aporusVerrill 1909 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Biology 4 ReferencesDescription editPteraster militaris is a robust starfish with a wide disc a large central pore and five short wrinkled triangular arms The aboral upper surface is dotted with papulae each topped with four short spines and above this is a papery covering giving the starfish an inflated bulky appearance It grows to a diameter of 85 millimetres 3 3 in and is usually orange pale yellow or white sometimes with red tips to its arms 2 Distribution editPteraster militaris is found in rocky habitats in water down to a depth of 1 100 metres 3 600 ft in the Arctic Ocean the Bering Sea the north west Pacific Ocean as far south as Oregon the Barents Sea and the north east and north west Atlantic Ocean 1 3 Biology editPteraster militaris feeds on various species of sponge including the cloud sponge Aphrocallistes vastus and the white reticulated sponge Iophon cheliferum and also on hydrozoans such as the pink branching hydrocoral Stylaster norvigicus and the purple encrusting hydrocoral Stylantheca 3 Pteraster militaris is unusual among starfishes in that it broods some of its young About forty fertilised eggs are retained in the water filled chamber below its papery outer skin and these develop into juveniles that may reach 1 cm 0 4 in across before they make their way out through the central pore 4 Eggs that are too numerous to be brooded are released direct into the sea where they become planktonic larvae 4 The brooded juveniles seem to behave as ectoparasites of the female feeding on maternal tissues in the brood chamber They may also eat dead embryos faecal material and mucus 5 References edit a b c Mah Christopher 2013 Mah CL ed Pteraster militaris O F Muller 1776 World Asteroidea database World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 2013 05 22 Kare Telnes 2013 03 16 Sea Star Pteraster militaris The Marine Flora amp Fauna of Norway Retrieved 2013 05 22 a b Neil McDaniel Wrinkled Star Sea stars of the Pacific Northwest Retrieved 2013 05 22 a b McClary Daniel J Mladenov Philip V 1989 Reproductive pattern in the brooding and broadcasting sea star Pteraster militaris Marine Biology 103 4 531 540 doi 10 1007 BF00399585 ISSN 0025 3162 McClary Daniel J Mladenov Philip V 1990 Brooding biology of the sea star Pteraster militaris O F Muller energetic and histological evidence for nutrient translocation to brooded juveniles Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 142 3 183 199 doi 10 1016 0022 0981 90 90090 Y Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pteraster militaris amp oldid 1187423119, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
