Metrodira subulata
| Metrodira subulata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Order: | Spinulosida |
| Family: | Echinasteridae |
| Genus: | Metrodira |
| Species: | M. subulata |
| Binomial name | |
| Metrodira subulata Gray, 1840 [1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Metrodira subulata is a species of starfish in the family Echinasteridae. It is found on the seabed in shallow parts of the Indo-Pacific region.
Description
Metrodira subulata has long, slender tapering arms. The aboral (upper) surface has many granulations and large pores. The margins have a row of smooth plates and there are short spines at the junctions of the plates. The colour of the aboral surface is yellowish-brown.[2] The spines are red, which contrasts with the sombre body colour and is considered an aposematic trait. [3]
References
- 1 2 Mah, Christopher (2010). C. L. Mah, ed. "Metrodira subulata Gray, 1840". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
- ↑ The annals and magazine of natural history, zoology, botany and geology: incorporating the journal of botany. Taylor & Francis. 1841. p. 282.
- ↑ Inbar, Moshe; Lev-Yadun, Simcha (2005). "Conspicuous and aposematic spines in the animal kingdom". Naturwissenschaften 92 (4): 170–172. doi:10.1007/s00114-005-0608-2.
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