Leptasterias tenera
Leptasterias tenera | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Asteroidea |
Order: | Forcipulatida |
Family: | Asteriidae |
Genus: | Leptasterias |
Species: | L. tenera
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Binomial name | |
Leptasterias tenera | |
Synonyms | |
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Leptasterias tenera is a species of starfish in the family Asteriidae. It is found on the eastern coast of North America.
Description
Leptasterias tenera is a small starfish with five arms [2] and a slow growth rate. It can grow to a diameter of 16 centimetres (6.3 in) but most adults only reach about half that size.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Leptasterias tenera occurs on the eastern seaboard of Canada and the United States, ranging from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island southwards to Cape Hatteras.[1] It is also known from the Sargasso Sea.[1] It is found at depths down to about 50 metres (160 ft) on sandy or muddy seabeds.[3]
Biology
Leptasterias tenera is an ambush predator. It remains stationary on the seabed for long periods, snaring any small crustaceans which come into contact with it, gripping them with its tube feet and pedicellariae and flexing its arms to transfer the prey to its mouth. Large items are pushed as far as they will go into the pyloric stomach but only the portion inside is digested at first.[3]
A study was undertaken of the breeding behaviour of Leptasterias tenera at
References
- ^ a b c Mah, Christopher (2010). Mah CL (ed.). "Leptasterias tenera (Stimpson, 1862)". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ PMID 889947.
- ^ JSTOR 1540983.