Heliaster helianthus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Heliaster helianthus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Order: | Forcipulatida |
| Family: | Heliasteridae |
| Genus: | Heliaster |
| Species: | H. helianthus |
| Binomial name | |
| Heliaster helianthus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Heliaster helianthus, the sun star, is a species of Asteroidea (starfish) in the family Heliasteridae. It is found in shallow water rocky habitats and in the kelp forests off the Pacific coast of Ecuador, Peru and Chile.
Heliaster helianthus is a multi-armed starfish, the number of arms usually being in the range 28 to 39, and the diameter typically being between 16 and 20 cm (6 and 8 in). The aboral (upper) surface is brown with reddish tubercles while the oral (under) surface is white or yellowish-white.[2]
The disc is broad and the ossicles (plate-like components in the skin) in the proximal parts of the arms (closest to the disc) are connected to those of the neighbouring arms by connective tissue, forming inter-arm septa. This means that only a small part of each arm is free, the rest appearing to form part of the disc.[3]
Distribution and habitat
This species is present in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, along the west coast of South America. Its range includes Ecuador, Peru and Chile, and it is the only species in its genus present in Chile where it is easily observed on rocks in shallow water.[2]
