Biology:Parvulastra exigua

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Short description: Species of starfish

Parvulastra exigua
Parvulastra exigua on a wet rock surface.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Asterinidae
Genus: Parvulastra
Species:
P. exigua
Binomial name
Parvulastra exigua
(Lamarck, 1816)
Parvalustra exigua distribution map.svg
Synonyms[1]
  • Asteriscus krauss Asterias exigua
  • Lamarck, 1816 de Blainville, 1834
  • (Gray, 1840) Patiriella exigua
  • Asterina exigua (Lamarck, 1816)
  • Asterias minuta (Lamarck, 1816)

Parvulastra exigua, or the dwarf cushion star[2] is a species of sea star in the family Asterinidae.[1] It can be found in temperate intertidal marine communities from geographically widespread sites around the southern hemisphere (including South Africa and Australia ).[2]

Description

Parvulastra exigua has pentagonal body with no obvious protruding arms. Dorsal surface is tiled with a small cluster of spines at each tile. Colour is variegated, with bright patterns in orange, brown, green and white.[2]

Distribution

Parvulastra exigua is found from Namibia to Mozambique on intertidal zones up to 3 m, on St Helena, St Paul, and southeastern Australia.[2]

Natural history

Parvulastra exigua occurs in the intertidal zone and slightly deeper, and is well camouflaged. It feeds on microscopic algae by everting stomach onto substrate. No planktonic larval stage is present.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Parvulastra exigua (Lamarck, 1816)". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. 2022. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=459556. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN:978-0-620-41639-9

Wikidata ☰ Q2677618 entry