Echinoderms Reference Libraries
The Variable bushy feather star is commonly found concealed on shallow water reefs in the western Pacific Ocean. The parts that will be most often seen are the fern-like arms. The arms start at the base with five rays then begin to divide from there. The arms are flexible due to the multiple calcium filled joints, also called ossicle; therefore if needed these arms could coil up and provide...
The noble feather star (also known as the yellow feather star) reaches up to 15.75 inches in diameter with a cup-shaped body. There can be 35-40 arms extending out of the central part of the body. The arms are primarily yellow with the underside having a variation to include black, green, or white. The noble feather star feeds on food debris, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton and...
The seven-armed starfish (Luidia ciliaris) is a species that can be found in the eastern waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Its range extends from the Faroe Islands and Norway to the Azores and Cape Verde in the south. It is typically found on soft seabeds, although it may reside on rocks, at depths of up to 1,312 feet. The seven-armed starfish is named for its seven...
The orange sea cucumber (Cucumaria miniata) has a large range that extends from northern waters of Mexico to northern waters of Alaska. It can be found at depths of up to 328 feet, resting within crevices of rocks or shipping docks. This species is typically found in areas with stronger currents in order to avoid predators, because it is able to attach itself to substrate. The orange sea...
Image Caption: Black Sea Cucumber, Holothuria forskali. Credit: Rpillon/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) The black sea cucumber (Holothuria forskali), also known as the cotton-spinner, is a species that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Its range includes the waters around the Azores and the Canary Islands. It prefers to reside in shallow waters at...
The Common Starfish (Asterias rubens), also known as the Common Sea Star, is the most common species of starfish found in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is usually found on rocky and gravelly substrate. This starfish has five arms and usually grows to between 4 and 12 inches in diameter, although some specimens have been recorded up to 21 inches across. It is typically orange or brown in...
Gorgonocephalus eucnemis is a species of starfish found in circumpolar marine environments in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly the Arctic Ocean and northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean as far south as the Faeroe Islands and Massachusetts Bay. It also occurs in the Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea south to Japan and Laguna Beach, California. It is found in rocky areas with strong currents...
The Antarctic Sea Urchin (Sterechinus neumayeri), is a species of sea urchin in the family Echinidae. It is found in the Antarctic Ocean living on the seafloor. It is common around the circumpolar waters, including the Balleny Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Terra Nova Bay, and Victoria Land. It is found at depths of about 820 feet. The colors of this species range...
The Magnificent Star (Luidia magnifica), is a species of starfish in the family Luidiidae. It is found only in the Pacific Ocean on sandy areas of the seabed surrounding Hawaii and the Philippines at a depth of 60 to 440 feet. This starfish can grow quite large, with one specimen found on the Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Hawaii, measuring 33 inches in diameter. It usually has ten long, tapering...
The Slender sea star (Astropecten spinulosus), is a species of starfish in the Astropectinidae family. It is found only in the Mediterranean Sea, spending much of its life on sandy, muddy or gravelly seabed in areas very rich in algae from 3.5 to 165 feet deep. Its favorite seabed meadows are Mediterranean Tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) and Little Neptune Grass (Cymodocea nodosa). The common...
