| Astrophyton | |
|---|---|
| Astrophyton Darwinium | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Subphylum: | Eleutherozoa |
| Superclass: | Cryptosyringida |
| Class: | Ophiuroidea |
| Order: | Phrynophiurida |
| Suborder: | Euryalina |
| Family: | Gorgonocephalidae |
| Genus: | Astrophyton |
The giant basket star (Astrophyton muricatum) is an echinoderm found throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.[1]
During the day, it curls up into a tight ball shape to protect itself from predators. At night, it climbs to an elevated point to feed on plankton by extending its intricately-branched feeding arms in a bowl-like shape, to snare passing plankton and other organisms from the current.
Astrophyton are in no way related to Astrophytum, which are a genus of cacti.
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