Comb stars

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Comb stars
Red comb star (Astropecten aranciacus), Tenerife

Red comb star ( Astropecten aranciacus ), Tenerife

Systematics
Trunk : Echinoderms (Echinodermata)
Sub-stem : Eleutherozoa (Eleutherozoa)
Class : Starfish (asteroidea)
Order : Paxil stars (Paxillosida)
Family : Astropectinidae
Genre : Comb stars
Scientific name
Astropecten
Gray , 1840
Marginal spines of an Astropecten bispinosus .
Marginal spines of an Astropecten irregularis .
Marginal spines of an Astropecten jonstoni .
Marginal spines of an Astropecten platyacanthus .
Marginal spines of an Astropecten aranciacus
Tip of the arm of Astropecten aranciacus
Some characteristics of the genus Astropecten
Scheme of an arm in cross section. 1. Papules and paxilles, 2. Superomarginal plate, 3. Inferomarginal plate, 4. Ambulacral plates, 5. Adambulacral plates
Cross-section through an arm of an astropect :
1. Skin gills (papules) 2. Paxille 3. Superomarginal marginal spines 4. Superomarginal plates 5. Scales and small thorns on the vertical side of the superomarginal plates 6. Ambulacral plates 7. Adambulacral pattern 8. Inferomarginal plates 9. inferomarginal spines 10. Pedicellarians 11. outer adambulacral spines 12. medium adambulacral spines 13. inner adambulacral spines 14. Ambulacral feet

The comb stars or comb starfish ( Astropecten ) are a cosmopolitan genus of starfish in the family Astropectinidae that live on sandy and muddy bottoms. With over 250 described and currently just over 100 accepted species, they are one of the most species-rich species of starfish.

features

In order to adapt to life on and in the sediment, comb stars have a regular, flattened shape with five arms in the shape of isosceles triangles, on the edges of which there are two rows of edge spikes and a row of edge plates in between. There are numerous umbrella-like platelets (paxillae) on the surface to protect the skin gills (papules). The ambulacral feet , which are provided with double ampoules, are pointed and have no suction pads. Most species lack pedicellariums . As with all Paxillenstars, the stomach ends blindly and cannot be turned out.

The many species of this genus can sometimes only be distinguished by specialists.

Distribution and occurrence

Comb stars can be found worldwide on sandy and muddy soils. They often dig a little into the ground, but they cannot move horizontally there.

There are 6 species in the Mediterranean, including the 15 cm to 30 cm large Nordic comb star ( Astropecten irregularis ) , which is also common in the North Sea, and the up to 50 cm large red comb star ( Astropecten aranciacus ), as well as Astropecten bispinosus , Astropecten jonstoni , Astropecten platyacanthus and Astropecten spinulosus .

nutrition

Astropecten are predators especially of mussels , snails and Grabfüßern , but also Vielborstern , crabs , brittle stars , sea urchins , starfish and cnidarians . The prey is swallowed whole and digested in the stomach. Indigestible residues are released through the mouth opening.

species

Astropecten is one of the most species-rich genus of starfish. The Astropecten aranciacus of the Mediterranean, described by Carl von Linné in 1758 as Asterias aranciaca , is the type species of the genus. So far, about 286 species of the genus Astropecten have been described, of which about 104 are currently accepted as species:

literature

  • Carlos Renato R. Ventura: Astropecten . In: John M. Lawrence (Ed.): Starfish - Biology and Ecology of the Asteroidea . Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore 2013. pp. 101-108.
  • Réné Koehler (1921): Faune de France. Echinodermes .
  • Enrico Tortonese (1965): Fauna d'Italia. Echinodermata .
  • Roberto Pillon (2009): Astropecten of the Mediterranean Sea .
  • Comb Starfish (Astropecten) . Lexicon of Biology. Spectrum Academic Publishing House, Heidelberg 1999.

Web links

Commons : Astropecten  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence