Vermilion Star
Mediaster aequalis
Marine Life of the Northeast Pacific (MLNEP) notes 4
Summary 5
Mediaster aequalis is one of the smaller sea stars, ranging in size from 76 to 127 mm (3 to 5 in). It is found on many types of beaches at very low tides, usually negative tides. Also known as the vermillion sea star it is omnivorous. Found along the west coast of North America, ranging from Alaska to California.
Description 6
M. aequalis has five (occasionally four or six) stumpy arms and grows to a diameter of up to 20 cm (8 in). The aboral (upper) surface is bright red while the oral (under) surface is an orangey-red. The tube feet are red. There is a row of conspicuous marginal plates along the edge of the arms on the aboral surface, and the central disc bears many flat-topped ossicles (platelike calcareous structures); these consist of a central group of granules surrounded by a ring of about twenty-five marginal granules.
Fuentes y créditos
- (c) M. Goff, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), subido por M. Goff
- (c) Brenna Green, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC-ND), subido por Brenna Green
- (c) Paul Norwood, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC), subido por Paul Norwood
- (c) Shannon Schmunk, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-SA)
- Adaptado por Shannon Schmunk del trabajo de (c) Wikipedia, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://hub.toolforge.org/P3151:293174?lang=
- (c) Wikipedia, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediaster_aequalis
