Alexander Semenov, Russland
Info
Pteraster militaris is a typical representative of the Pterasteridae family, as it has spiny papillae on its back.
Its soft skin covers the spines and gives the surface of these starfish a messy, bumpy, and wrinkled appearance.
The spines on the edges of the arms are connected by a membrane.
Each papilla has two to five spines, unlike the similar but smaller Pteraster pulvillus, which has 8-15 spines per papilla.
Pteraster militaris can reach a diameter of 8.5 cm, while Pteraster pulvillus does not exceed 4.0 cm.
The color of Pteraster militaris is white, light yellow, or orange, or even reddish. The starfish has five short, stout arms that are sometimes pointed red.
A third member of this family is Pteraster obscurus, which has 6–8 arms.
Reproduction: The adult starfish carries its brood under a membrane and releases them as small starfish when they are ready.
Synonyms:
Asterias militaris O.F. Müller, 1776 · unaccepted (synonym)
Asteriscus militaris (O.F. Müller, 1776) · unaccepted
Pteraster aporus Ludwig, 1886 · unaccepted (synonym according to Fisher (1911))
Pterasterides aporus (Ludwig, 1886) · unaccepted (synonym according to Fisher (1911))
Its soft skin covers the spines and gives the surface of these starfish a messy, bumpy, and wrinkled appearance.
The spines on the edges of the arms are connected by a membrane.
Each papilla has two to five spines, unlike the similar but smaller Pteraster pulvillus, which has 8-15 spines per papilla.
Pteraster militaris can reach a diameter of 8.5 cm, while Pteraster pulvillus does not exceed 4.0 cm.
The color of Pteraster militaris is white, light yellow, or orange, or even reddish. The starfish has five short, stout arms that are sometimes pointed red.
A third member of this family is Pteraster obscurus, which has 6–8 arms.
Reproduction: The adult starfish carries its brood under a membrane and releases them as small starfish when they are ready.
Synonyms:
Asterias militaris O.F. Müller, 1776 · unaccepted (synonym)
Asteriscus militaris (O.F. Müller, 1776) · unaccepted
Pteraster aporus Ludwig, 1886 · unaccepted (synonym according to Fisher (1911))
Pterasterides aporus (Ludwig, 1886) · unaccepted (synonym according to Fisher (1911))
