Common Names
Common Names in English:
Cushion Sea Star, Cushion Star, Slime Star
Description
Physical Description
Species Pteraster tesselatus
This 5-rayed seastar has a thick, broad central disk and rays approximately as long as the central disk is wide. It has no conspicuous marginal plates ; in fact, the entire aboral surface is covered with a thick, loose , elevated fleshy membrane , giving it a fairly smooth texture and soft feel. The madreporite cannot be seen--instead, a central pore opens into the spongy space between the membrane and the aboral surface. When disturbed , often secretes large amounts of a thick, viscous slime. Color yellowish brown or pale orange. Diameter about 15 cm.
Habitat
Rocky areas
Ecology: Ambulacral grooves may have the symbiotic polychaete worm Arctonoe pulchra, A. vittata, or Ophiodromus pugettensis.
Biology
Diet
Diet includes sponges such as Halochondria panicea, Aplidium, Didemnum, and Corella inflata tunicates , and bivalves such as the falsejingle Pododesmus macroschisma.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
)
- animals
- Phylum:
Echinodermata
()
- Echinoderms
- Class:
Asteroidea
()
- Order:
Spinulosida
()
- Family:
Curculionoidea
()
- Genus:
Pteraster
()
- - cushion star
- Specific name:
tesselatus
- Ives, 1888
- Scientific name: - Pteraster tesselatus Ives, 1888
- Specific name:
tesselatus
- Ives, 1888
- Genus:
Pteraster
(
- Family:
Curculionoidea
(
- Order:
Spinulosida
(
- Class:
Asteroidea
(
- Phylum:
Echinodermata
(
Unambiguous Synonyms
- Pteraster tesselatus arcuatus Fisher, 1911
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 27-Dec-2004
Similar Species
No other common local species secretes the copious slime nor has the elevated membrane over the aboral surface. Dermasterias imbricata is not as thick, the madreporite can be seen, and is usually reddish brown with gray or purple. Asterina miniata and Mediaster aequalis have obvious plates (ossicles) on the aboral surface.
Members of the genus Pteraster
There are approximately 25 species in this genus:
P. affinis · P. alveolatus · P. bathamae · P. coscinopeplus · P. jordani · P. marpaltensis · P. marplatensis · P. marsippus · P. militaris · P. obesus · P. obscurus · P. personatus · P. pulvillus · P. reductus · P. reticulatus · P. robertsoni · P. rugatus · P. rugosus · P. sp · P. stellifer · P. temnochiton · P. tesselatus (Cushion Sea Star) · P. tesselatus tesselatus · P. trigonodon · P. trigonodum
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Notes
Contributors
- Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 2 providers.
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 01, 2008:
- Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, Gwaii Haanas Invertebrates
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2764960
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-157113
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 232173
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 157113
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 153367
