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Parvulastra exigua

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Parvulastra exigua
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Asterinidae
Genus: Parvulastra
Species:
P. exigua
Binomial name
Parvulastra exigua
(Lamarck, 1816)
Synonyms[1]
  • Asterias exigua Lamarck, 1816
  • Asterias minuta de Blainville, 1834
  • Asterina exigua (Lamarck, 1816)
  • Asteriscus krauss (Gray, 1840)
  • Patiriella exigua (Lamarck, 1816)

Parvulastra exigua, or the dwarf cushion star[2] is a species of sea star in the family Asterinidae.[1] It can be found in temperate intertidal marine communities from geographically widespread sites around the southern hemisphere (including South Africa and Australia).[2]

Description

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Parvulastra exigua has pentagonal body with no obvious protruding arms. Dorsal surface is tiled with a small cluster of spines at each tile. Colour is variegated, with bright patterns in orange, brown, green and white.[2]

Distribution

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Parvulastra exigua is found from Namibia to Mozambique on intertidal zones up to 3 m, on St Helena, St Paul, and southeastern Australia.[2]

Natural history

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Parvulastra exigua occurs in the intertidal zone and slightly deeper, and is well camouflaged. It feeds on microscopic algae by everting stomach onto substrate. No planktonic larval stage is present.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Mah CL, ed. (2022). "Parvulastra exigua (Lamarck, 1816)". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9