Luidia foliolata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Luidia foliolata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sand star (left) and shrimp (right) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Order: | Paxillosida |
| Family: | Luidiidae |
| Genus: | Luidia |
| Species: | L. foliolata |
| Binomial name | |
| Luidia foliolata | |
Luidia foliolata, the sand star, is a species of starfish in the family Luidiidae found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean on sandy and muddy seabeds at depths to about 600 m (2,000 ft).
The sand star has a small disc and five long, flattened arms with tapering tips. It can grow to a diameter of 40 cm (16 in), and is a grey, greenish-grey, or pale brown colour, sometimes speckled with white. The arms have rows of large marginal plates, each with several spines, but these are not visible from the aboral (upper) side. The tube feet have no suckers, but instead end with blunt points. The sand star could be confused with Astropecten verrilli, but in that species, the large marginal plates are visible from above.[2][3] This starfish seems to be easily damaged, and often breaks in pieces if raised from the seabed by trawling.[3] Even when brought up intact, it often has missing or regenerating arms, perhaps the result of attacks by predatory crabs or fish.[4]