Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (/ ˌæstəˈrɔɪdiə /). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish are also known as asteroids due to being in the class Asteroidea.

Starfish belong to the class Asteroidea, derived from the Greek words “aster” (a star) and “eidos“ (form, likeness, appearance). There are more than 1600 species of starfish alive today, and they have an important role in the community structure of the ocean floor.

Starfish, such as the ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) and the reef sea star (Stichaster australis), have become widely known as examples of the keystone species concept in ecology. They are sometimes collected as curios, used in design or as logos, and in some cultures, despite possible toxicity, they are eaten. Starfish have been

Beachcombers and tide pool explorers may be familiar with sea stars, sea urchins, and sand dollars, but what many may not know is that all three are related. Additionally, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and sea lilies, less known animals of the ocean, round out the family tree.

There are some 2,000 species of sea star living in all the world’s oceans, from tropical habitats to the cold seafloor. The five-arm varieties are the most common, hence their name, but species...

2024年12月8日 · In this guide, we will explore the biology and ecology of starfish in more detail, including their anatomy, physiology, and behavior, as well as their importance in the marine ecosystem. Introduction to Asteroidea. The Asteroidea are a class of marine invertebrates that belong to the phylum Echinodermata. They are characterized by their radial ...

2012年4月27日 · Members of the Asteroidea (phylum Echinodermata), popularly known as starfish or sea stars, are ecologically important and diverse members of marine ecosystems in all of the world's oceans. We present a comprehensive overview of diversity and phylogeny as they have figured into the evolution of the Asteroidea from Paleozoic to the living fauna.

Starfish is a comprehensive volume devoted to the integrative and comparative biology and ecology of starfish.Written by the world's leading experts on starfish, the integrative section covers topics such as reproduction, developmental biology and ecology, larval ecology, and the ecological role of starfish as a group.

2013年5月29日 · Starfish are icons of the seashore. The book edited by J. M. Lawrence offers a comprehensive review of their biology and ecology. It perfectly integrates the research conducted during the past decades, updating the still-quoted synthesis of Hyman (1955), and complimenting the serial ‘Echinoderm Studies’ that was last published in 2001.

2013年3月15日 · Starfish is a comprehensive volume devoted to the integrative and comparative biology and ecology of starfish. Written by the world's leading experts on starfish, the integrative section covers topics such as reproduction, developmental biology and ecology, larval ecology, and the ecological role of starfish as a group.