Solaster stimpsoni

Solaster stimpsoni, common names Stimpson's sun star, sun star, orange sun star, striped sunstar, and sun sea star, is a species of starfish in the family Solasteridae.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Solaster stimpsoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Solasteridae
Genus: Solaster
Species:
S. stimpsoni
Binomial name
Solaster stimpsoni
Verrill, 1880
Synonyms
  • Asterias decemradiatus Brandt, 1835
  • Crossaster vancouverensis de Loriol, 1897
  • Solaster constellatus Verrill, 1909
  • Solaster decemradiatus (Brandt, 1835)

Description

Solaster stimpsoni is a large species, growing up to 50 cm in diameter. It can have 8 to 12 arms, but usually has 10.[2] The aboral surface has a distinctive reddish orange colour and is covered with thick paxillae. The arms are long, slender, and tapering, each with a dark, purplish-grey contrasting stripe, running from the centre of the body to the tip.[5] They contain no pedicellariae. The underside of the arms have two rows of tube feet.

Distribution

This species is found in the seas of Japan, and along the western coast of the United States, from central California, to as far north as Alaska.[4]

Habitat

Solaster stimpsoni usually lives on rocky surfaces in the subtidal, and occasionally the low inter-tidal zones, at depths from 0 to 610 meters.

Diet

This starfish feeds on various small sea cucumbers, such as Cucumaria miniata, Cucumaria curata, Eupentacta quinquesemita, Eupentacta pseudoquinquesemita, and Psolus chitonoides. It also eats brachiopods, ascidians, or sea pens.

Predators

Solaster stimpsoni is eaten by a close relative, Solaster dawsoni, the morning sunstar.[3]

References
  1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Solaster stimpsoni Verrill, 1880". Marinespecies.org. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  2. Dave Cowles. "Solaster stimpsoni". Wallawalla.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  3. Joan Gerteis. "Solaster stimpsoni". Beachwatchers.wsu.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  4. "AFSC/RACE - Sun Sea Star, Solaster stimpsoni". Afsc.noaa.gov. 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  5. "Solaster stimpsoni | Marine Biodiversity of British Columbia". Bcbiodiversity.lifedesks.org. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  6. "The World Asteroidea Database - Solaster stimpsoni Verrill, 1880". Marinespecies.org. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2012-02-13.


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