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Protoreaster nodosus


Protoreaster nodosus
Photo Information
Copyright: Czaldy Garrote (Muscovado) Silver Note Writer [C: 6 W: 0 N: 16] (119)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-10-21
Categories: Echinoderms
Camera: Olympus SP310
Exposure: f/4.9, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-11-12 9:56
Viewed: 5676
Points: 2
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Protoreaster nodosus is a species of sea star found in the warm, shallow waters of Indo-Pacific region. Also known as "horned sea stars", they possess rows of spines or "horns"; black conical spines arranged in a single row, radially on the dorsal side, which may erode and becoming blunt. On the ventral side, tube feet, purple in color, are arranged in doube rows on each arms. Most horned sea stars found are roughly rigid five-pointed star-shape with tapering arms to the end, although there are anomalies like four or six-armed specimens; they may grow up to 30 centimetres in diameter. Usually colored in shades of red or brown, horned sea stars prefer sheltered, sandy or slightly muddy bottoms more than hard substrata such as coral reef, and frequently sighted conspicouously between the leaves of seagrasses on sea grass meadows or on blank stretch of coral sand. In shallow water, this species can be seen intertidally, occasionally exposed to the low tide. Sometimes, many individuals of this species can be seen gathering on soft bottom with reason not very well known, probably to increase the chance of fertilization when spawning or simply a suitable feeding ground.

source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoreaster_nodosus

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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Czaldy

A very unusual creature - not seen before under water or in books!

TFS

Verite

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