Callopatiria granifera

Callopatiria granifera, the red starfish, is a southern African species of starfish in the family Asterinidae.[2]

Red starfish
Callopatiria granifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Valvatida
Family:
Asterinidae
Genus:
Callopatiria
Species:
C. granifera
Binomial name
Callopatiria granifera
(Gray, 1847)[1]

Description

The red starfish is a medium-sized orange to red starfish which grows up to 15 cm (5.9 in) across. It has a dorsal surface resembling a tiled roof and its arms taper to rounded ends.

Distribution

It is found from Namibia to Durban on the South African coast, subtidally

Ecology

This starfish feeds on food detritus.

References
  1. http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=177969 accessed 18 July 2012
  2. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0


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