Leptasterias polaris
Leptasterias polaris | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Asteroidea |
Order: | Forcipulatida |
Family: | Asteriidae |
Genus: | Leptasterias |
Species: | L. polaris
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Binomial name | |
Leptasterias polaris (Müller & Troschel, 1842) [1]
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Synonyms | |
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Leptasterias polaris, the polar six-rayed star, is a species of starfish in the family Asteriidae. It is found in cold waters in the northwest Atlantic Ocean and in polar regions.
Description
Leptasterias polaris is a small, slow growing, compact starfish with six arms. The aboral (upper) surface has a covering of blunt spiny plates and is usually some shade of brown or grey.[1][2]
Distribution and habitat
Leptasterias polaris occurs in the north west Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Maine northwards, and in Arctic waters. It has also been found in the Azores and European waters.[1]
Biology
Leptasterias polaris is a major predator in the cold waters in which it lives. Young individuals are mostly found on rocks less than 10 metres (33 ft) deep and feed on such
Breeding takes place when the water temperature falls to about 2 °C (36 °F) and the day length is at its minimum. Over a period of seven to eight weeks the normally solitary starfish begin to aggregate, eventually some climbing on top of others. The males release sperm which accumulates in a layer on the seabed and the females later release their eggs on top.[3] The females brood the developing eggs for four months [2] but that is probably more to keep them clean and healthy and prevent predation than to speed their development as unbrooded eggs were found in the laboratory to develop at the same rate as brooded ones.[3]
References
- ^ a b c Mah, Christopher (2010). Mah CL (ed.). "Leptasterias (Hexasterias) polaris (Müller & Troschel, 1842)". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ .
- ^ PMID 29281304.