Hippasteria muscipula

Hippasteria muscipula is one of twelve species of deep-sea sea star in the genus Hippasteria, which is in the family Goniasteridae.[1]

Hippasteria muscipula
Hippasteria muscipula holotype
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Valvatida
Family:
Goniasteridae
Subfamily:
Hippasterinae
Genus:
Hippasteria
Species:
H. muscipula
Binomial name
Hippasteria muscipula
Mah, Neill, Eleaume & Foltz 2014[1]

Description and characteristics

It is a regular, five-armed sea star, with a large and flattened central disc (as most species in this family). The body is covered by short and stout spines, and characterized by big, fly-trap like pedicellariae. When alive, the central disc is swollen, forming five radial bumps.[2] It is a rather big species, and can grow up to 30 cm across.[3]

This species seems to be a predator of deep sea coral and other cnidarians, and was observed climbing on corals in order to feed.[2][4]

  • Hippasteria muscipula observed in the deep sea off Hawaii
  • Hippasteria muscipula climbing on coral, probably feeding (with yellow polychaete worms).

This species remained unknown to science until 2014,[5] but since its description it was observed many times in its environment by deep-sea research missions, such as Okeanos Explorer 2015, off Hawaii.[2]

Its name comes from its impressive pedicellariae, which look like traps of the carnivorous plant called "Venus fly trap" (Dionaea muscipula).[3]

Habitat and repartition

This species lives in the depths of Pacific Ocean, and has been recorded in Hawaii, New Caledonia and New Zealand,[1] between 425 and 1500 meters deep.[3]

Bibliography
  • Mah, Christopher L.; Neill, K.; Eléaume, Marc; Foltz, D. (2014). "New Species and global revision of Hippasteria (Hippasterinae: Goniasteridae; Asteroidea; Echinodermata)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 171 (2): 422–456. doi:10.1111/zoj.12131.
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References
  1. Mah, Christopher L. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Hippasteria muscipula Mah, Neill, Eleaume & Foltz 2014". Marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  2. Mah, Christopher L. (2015-09-01). "Deep Sea Hawaii CONTINUES!! Okeanos Explorer Leg 3 BEGINS!!". The Echinoblog.
  3. Mah, Christopher L. (2014-06-10). "The Hippest Post you Know! New Hippasteria species!". The Echinoblog.
  4. Mah, Christopher L. (2013-09-16). "Goniasterid Starfish LOVE to eat Octocorals!". The Echinoblog.
  5. Mah, Christopher L.; Neill, K.; Eléaume, Marc; Foltz, D. (2014). "New Species and global revision of Hippasteria (Hippasterinae: Goniasteridae; Asteroidea; Echinodermata)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 171 (2): 422–456. doi:10.1111/zoj.12131.
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