eastern cape scuba diving
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| Scientific name: |
Marthasterias glacialis |
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| Common name: |
Spiny starfish |
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| Taxonomy |
| Phyulm |
Sub Phylum |
Class |
Sub Class |
Order |
Sub Order |
Family |
Sub Family |
Genus |
Species |
| Echinodermata |
Asteroza |
Asteroidea |
Asteroidea |
Forcipulatida |
Asteriadina |
Asteriadae |
Not Defined |
Marthasterias |
Marthasterias glacialis |
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Short Description:
This starfish is large and has five very spiny arms. Each arm bears three longitudinal rows of spike-like spines surrounded by large cushions of pedicellariae. Smaller spines may be scattered between these rows. The spines are white and usually purple-tipped and the animal varies in colour from dirty brown to greenish-grey with purple tips to the arms.
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Identification
features: |
Large spines forming three main rows along each arm.
Spines surrounded by a wreath of pedicellariae.
Spines usually white with purple tips. |
| Size: |
Up to 350mm or more in diameter. |
| Behaviour: |
Common on rocky shores where it can form large aggregations |
| Diet: |
Veracious predator particulary of mussels |
| Distribution: |
Cape Town to Port Elizabeth
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| Depth: |
1-20m |
| Habitat: |
This species may be found in a very wide range of habitats from sheltered muddy sites to fully exposed rockfaces. Specimens from sheltered sites are usually larger than those from exposed sites.
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| Reference: |
Two Oceans
(A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa)
GM Branch;CL Griffiths;ML Branch;LE Beckley |
| Similar Species: |
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Database Statistics
(Click on the links for more information) |
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eastern cape scuba diving
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