Callopatiria granifera

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Callopatiria granifera
Callopatiria granifera
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Asterinidae
Genus: Callopatiria
Species:
C. granifera
Binomial name
Callopatiria granifera
(Gray, 1847)[1]

Callopatiria granifera, the red starfish, is a southern African species of starfish in the family Asterinidae.[2]

Description[edit]

The red starfish is a medium-sized orange to red starfish which grows up to 15 cm (5.9 in) across. It has a dorsal surface resembling a tiled roof and its arms taper to rounded ends.

Distribution[edit]

It is found from Namibia to Durban on the South African coast, subtidally.

Ecology[edit]

This starfish feeds on food detritus.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Callopatiria granifera (Gray, 1847)". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  2. ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0