Metrodira subulata

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.

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]
  • Fromia subulata Perrier, 1878
  • Linckia subulata Gray, 1840
  • Scaphaster humberti de Loriol, 1899
  • Scytaster subulatus Müller & Troschel, 1842

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. Mah, Christopher (2010). Mah CL (ed.). "Metrodira subulata Gray, 1840". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  2. Gray, John Edward (1841). "A Synopsis of the Genera and Species of the Class Hypostoma (Asterias, Linnaeus)". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology. Taylor & Francis: 282.
  3. 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. PMID 15761732.


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