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sea
stars text index | photo
index
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| Phylum Echinodermata > Class Stelleroida > Subclass Asteroidea |
| Cake
sea star Anthenea aspera Family Oreasteridae updated Jan 09 Where seen? This large, flat sea star is often seen on our Northern shores. Smaller ones are seen on seagrass areas while larger ones are usually seen on coral rubble, sometimes wedged under overhangs. It is usually seen alone and usually more active at night. According to Lane, these sea stars were previously only seen from samples dredged from the channel between Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. One was seen in a dive off Pulau Semakau. They are considered rare in the Indo-Pacific (only known from North Australia, southern Japan, China, Indonesia and Singapore) and little is known about them. Features: Diameter with arms 10-20cm. Stiff body, the upperside usually slightly convex. Ams are short with rounded tips. Large, neat marginal plates all around the edges. The upperside is covered with tiny pedicellariae (pincer-like structures). The underside is flat, usually with a pattern of bars that form chevrons around the arms, with large bivalved pedicellariae. The tube feet are short tipped with suckers. Cake sea stars come in a wide variety of patterns and colours, from black, brown, red to even green. Sometimes confused with the Biscuit sea star (Goniodiscaster scaber). and the Spiny sea star (Gymnanthenea laevis). Here's more on how to tell apart large sea stars seen on our shores. Status and threats: This star is listed as 'Vulnerable' in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. |
 Changi, Jul 08  Upperside covered with tiny pedicellariae. |
 Underside usually with barred pattern. |
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 Large marginal plates on the sides. |
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 Large bivalve pedicellarie on underside. |
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Cake sea stars on Singapore shores
 Beting Bronok, Jul 08  |
 Chek Jawa, Mar 03  |
 Chek Jawa, Jul 08  |
 Tuas, Apr 08  |
 Chek Jawa, Jun 03  |
 Chek Jawa, Jul 08  |
more photos of cake sea stars on Singapore shores
northern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8
southern shores
References
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