Astrophyton

Not to be confused with Astrophytum.
Astrophyton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Phrynophiurida
Family: Gorgonocephalidae
Genus: Astrophyton
Fleming, 1828
Species: A. muricatum
Binomial name
Astrophyton muricatum
(Lamarck, 1816)
Synonyms

Euryale muricatum Lamarck, 1816

The giant basket star, Astrophyton muricatum, is an echinoderm found throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.[1] It is the only species in the genus Astrophyton.[2]

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.

References

  1. Encyclopedia of Life: Astrophyton muricatum
  2. Sabine Stöhr & Hans Hansson (2012). S. Stöhr & T. O'Hara, ed. "Astrophyton Fleming, 1828". World Ophiuroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved February 25, 2012.