From Natural History of Southeast Alaska
| Class
|
Asteroidea +
|
| Common name is
|
Fish-eating Star +
|
| Documentation requested
|
false +
|
| Family
|
Asteriidae +
|
| Genus
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Stylasterias +
|
| Order
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Forcipulatida +
|
| Origination status is
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Native +
|
| Phylum
|
Echinodermata +
|
| Scientific name is
|
Stylasterias forreri +
|
| SpecificEpithet
|
forreri +
|
| Summary
|
This is a subtidal species, which is unlik … This is a subtidal species, which is unlikely to be found by beachcombers. It looks a lot like a cross between [[Evasterias troscheli|Mottled star (''Evasterias troscheli'')]], with which it can share color, and [[Orthasterias koehleri|Rainbow star (''Orthasterias koehleri'')]], which has similar spines. Essentially, a black or brown starfish with prominent white spines is going to be this species. There is another subtidal species in our region which looks like this one, ''[[Lethasterias nanimensis]]'', but it has black-tipped spines. In white specimens where the color isn't helpful for distinguishing between this species and [[Orthasterias koehleri|Rainbow star (''Orthasterias koehleri'')]], look at the pedicellariae (the little "grabber pincers" around the base of the dorsal spines). Those of ''Orthasterias koehleri'' are straight like pliers, whereas those of ''Stylasterias forreri'' are crooked like mandibles. This is so that this starfish can capture the occasional sculpin or other small fish that may be foolish enough to try and settle onto its back, which is a secondary feeding method for this primarily snail-eating predator. for this primarily snail-eating predator. +
|
| Synonyms include
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Asterias forcipulata +
, Asterias forreri +
, Orthasterias forreri +
, Orthasterias leptolena +
|
| TaxonRank
|
species +
|
| Has queryThis property is a special property in this wiki.
|
Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
|
| Categories |
Marine Invertebrate +
, Species +
|
| Modification dateThis property is a special property in this wiki.
|
25 July 2013 10:00:10 +
|
| Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.
|
Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
, Stylasterias forreri +
|
