Astropecten

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Genus of starfishes

title: "Astropecten" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["astropectinidae", "astropecten", "asteroidea-genera", "taxa-named-by-john-edward-gray"] description: "Genus of starfishes" topic_path: "general/astropectinidae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astropecten" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Genus of starfishes ::

| image = Astropecten aranciacus in Tenerife.jpg | image_caption = Astropecten aranciacus | taxon = Astropecten | authority = Gray, 1840 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. Astropecten is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.

Identification

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Aculei_Astropecten.jpg" caption="Description of arm’s section of starfish genus ''Astropecten''.
"] ::

1- papulas: they are soft and retractable appendages with respiratory functions 2- paxilla 3- superomarginal spines 4- superomarginal plates 5- scales and small spines covering the vertical face of superomarginal plates 6- ambulacral plates 7- adambulacral plates 8- inferomarginal plates 9- inferomarginal spines 10- pedicellaria: special pedicels with prehensile termination necessary to grab bodies and detritus 11- external adambulacral spines 12- median adambulacral spines 13- internal adambulacral spines 14- ambulacral pedicellaria]] ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Astropecten_irregularis_pentacanthus_Sardegna09_18cm_5038_dett.jpg" caption="Ossicles of an ''[[Astropecten irregularis]]''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Astropecten_jonstoni_Naxos08_1967_640x480_dpi90_dett.jpg" caption="Ossicles of an ''[[Astropecten jonstoni]]''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Astropecten_platyacanthus_Sardegna09_dett2.JPG" caption="Flat ossicles of an ''[[Astropecten platyacanthus]]''"] ::

These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain determination, in some cases, animals should be analyzed in the laboratory or using genetic testing, but often it isn’t possible. In order to determine the species, with a reasonable margin of error, it’s necessary to observe the appearance of the animal, in particular, based on some typical features described by principal authors that have analyzed over the years a large number of specimens in the laboratory. The main elements, to determine the various species from photo, are: the appearance of the dorsal marginal plates and spines, the size, the shape of disc and arms. For a good identification by sea photo it is important to take a complete picture of all the subject, a picture of the detail of the marginal plates and to measure as precisely as possible the diameter of the sea star. All this can be done without touching, turning it, or disturbing the animal. Starfishes have two sides: an upper side called “aboral side” (which is normally visible), and a bottom side called “oral side” (which rests on the seabed).

The main elements of starfish genus Astropecten.jpg|General look of an Astropecten Britannica Echinoderma 16 tagged.png|Cross-section of an arm. 1=papula and paxilla, 2=superomarginal plate, 3=inferomarginal plate, 4=ambulacral plates, 5=adambulacral plate Astropecten aranciacus Naxos08 1775 dett.jpg|Ossicles of an Astropecten aranciacus Astropecten aranciacus.jpg|Armtip of an Astropecten aranciacus

Species

Astropecten aranciacus Sardegna09 28cm 5520.jpg|Astropecten aranciacus Astropectenarmatus.jpg|Astropecten armatus Purple and Orange Starfish on the Beach (2884079538).jpg|Astropecten articulatus Astropecten bispinosus Sardegna06 3284.jpg|Astropecten bispinosus Astropecten irregularis pentacanthus Sardegna09 17cm 5962.jpg|Astropecten irregularis Astropecten jonstoni Naxos08 1832 640x480 dpi90.jpg|Astropecten jonstoni Astropecten platyacanthus Sardegna09 e cm09 5503.jpg|Astropecten platyacanthus Astropecten polycanthus (Starfish).jpg|Astropecten polycanthus Astropecten preissei PC260142.JPG|Astropecten preissei Astropecten spinulosus Croazia09 a 6957.jpg|Astropecten spinulosus Astropecten lorioli.jpg|Astropecten lorioli (extinct, from the Jurassic)

Mediterranean species

Six species of Astropecten currently live in the Mediterranean Sea:

References

  • Roberto Pillon (2009). Astropecten of the Mediterranean Sea
  • Koehler, Réné. 1921. Faune de France. Echinodermes.
  • Tortonese, Enrico. 1965. Fauna d'Italia. Echinodermata.
  • Tortonese, Enrico. 1934. Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale Giacomo Doria (Volume 57).
  • Emil Edler Von Marenzeller (1875). Revision adriatischer Seesterne.
  • Ludwig, Hubert. 1897. Die Seesterne des Mittelmeeres. Zoologischen station zu Neapel.
  • Ludwig Heinrich Philipp Döderlein. 1921. Die Asteriden der Siboga-Expedition.

References

  1. "''Astropecten'' Gray, 1840".

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astropectinidaeastropectenasteroidea-generataxa-named-by-john-edward-gray