Astrometis
Species of sea star
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Astrometis sertulifera, the fragile rainbow star, is the only species of sea star in the monotypic genus Astrometis. It is found from Santa Barbara to the Gulf of California.
| Astrometis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Order: | Forcipulatida |
| Family: | Asteriidae |
| Genus: | Astrometis |
| Species: | A. sertulifera |
| Binomial name | |
| Astrometis sertulifera (Xantus, 1860) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Appearance
Behavior
Like all species of sea star, this species can occasionally break off (and later regrow) one of its arms, but has less tendency to discard its limbs than most sea stars in California.[2]
Eating habits
They feed primarily on small crabs, though chitons, snails, clams, barnacles, brittle stars, and urchins have also been found in the diet. Their method of feeding is unique among sea stars. Rather than grasp their prey from below with their tube feet, they capture prey on their top surface using pedicellariae. These parrot-beak-like appendages are set into cushions surrounded the larger multi-colored spines on the animals' top. When prey is sensed, the cushion is raised above the level of the spines, and the "jaws" clamp shut. Prey can be held immobile for some time before being transferred under the animal and eaten.[3] Fragile rainbow stars are eaten by sunstars in the genus Heliaster.
