Paulasterias mcclaini
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| Paulasterias mcclaini | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Family: | Paulasteriidae |
| Genus: | Paulasterias |
| Species: | P. mcclaini |
| Binomial name | |
| Paulasterias mcclaini Mah et al., 2015[1] | |
Paulasterias mcclaini is a species of starfish in the family Paulasteriidae. It is found in deep water at hydrothermal vents.[2]
This species was collected by the marine biologist Craig McClain and first described by echinoderm specialist Christopher Mah in 2015, being named Paulasterias mcclaini in honour of its finder. Along with its sister species Paulasterias tyleri, also found at hydrothermal vents, it differed markedly from other known starfish species, so the new family Paulasteriidae in the superorder Forcipulatacea was created to accommodate the two species. They are the first starfish species known from hydrothermal vents.[3]
Description
Paulasterias mcclaini is a six-armed starfish with slender tapering arms. Larger specimens have a thick fleshy skin on the aboral (upper) surface, with spongy tissue underneath, which conceals the dermal plates. It is a pink starfish, covered with short spines.[4]
