Ophidiasteridae
Encyclopedia
Ophidiasteridae is a family
of sea star
s with about 30 genera
. Occurring both in the Indo-Pacific
and Atlantic oceans, ophidiasterids are greatest in diversity in the Indo-Pacific. Many of the genera in this family exhibits brilliant color and pattern, which sometimes can be attributed to aposematism
and crypsis
to protect themselves from predators. Some ophidiasterids possess remarkable powers of regeneration, enabling them to either reproduce asexually
or to survive serious damage made by predators or forces of nature (an example for this is the genus Linckia
). Some species belonging to Linckia , Ophidiaster and Phataria shed single arms that regenerate the disc and the remaining rays to form a complete individual. Some of these also reproduce asexually by parthenogenesis
.
The name of the family is taken from the genus Ophidiaster, whose limbs are slender, semi-tubular and serpentine.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of sea star
Sea star
Starfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The names "starfish" and "sea star" essentially refer to members of the class Asteroidea...
s with about 30 genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. Occurring both in the Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
and Atlantic oceans, ophidiasterids are greatest in diversity in the Indo-Pacific. Many of the genera in this family exhibits brilliant color and pattern, which sometimes can be attributed to aposematism
Aposematism
Aposematism , perhaps most commonly known in the context of warning colouration, describes a family of antipredator adaptations where a warning signal is associated with the unprofitability of a prey item to potential predators...
and crypsis
Crypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
to protect themselves from predators. Some ophidiasterids possess remarkable powers of regeneration, enabling them to either reproduce asexually
Asexual reproduction in starfish
Asexual reproduction in starfish takes place by fission or through autotomy of arms. In fission, the central disc breaks into two pieces and each portion then regenerates the missing parts. In autotomy, an arm is shed which continues to live independently as a "comet", eventually growing a new disc...
or to survive serious damage made by predators or forces of nature (an example for this is the genus Linckia
Linckia
Linckia is a genus of sea star. They are found mainly in the Indo-Pacific region.They are known to be creatures with remarkable regenerative abilities, capable of defensive autotomy against predators...
). Some species belonging to Linckia , Ophidiaster and Phataria shed single arms that regenerate the disc and the remaining rays to form a complete individual. Some of these also reproduce asexually by parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
.
The name of the family is taken from the genus Ophidiaster, whose limbs are slender, semi-tubular and serpentine.
Systematics
The following genera are accepted in the World Register of Marine Species:- Andora A.M. Clark, 1967
- Austrofromia H.L. Clark, 1921
- Bunaster Doderlein, 1896
- Celerina A.M. Clark, 1967
- Certonardoa H.L. Clark, 1921
- Cistina Gray, 1840
- Copidaster A.H.Clark, 1948
- Dactylosaster Gray, 1840
- Devania Marsh, 1974
- Dissogenes Fisher, 1913
- Drachmaster Downey, 1970
- Ferdina Gray, 1840
- Gomophia Gray, 1840
- Hacelia Gray, 1840
- Heteronardoa Hayashi, 1973
- Leiaster Peters, 1852
- LinckiaLinckiaLinckia is a genus of sea star. They are found mainly in the Indo-Pacific region.They are known to be creatures with remarkable regenerative abilities, capable of defensive autotomy against predators...
Nardo, 1834 - Narcissia Gray, 1840
- Nardoa Gray, 1840
- Oneria Rowe, 1981
- Ophidiaster L. Agassiz, 1836
- Paraferdina James, 1976
- Pharia Gray, 1840
- Phataria Gray, 1840
- Plenardoa H.L. Clark, 1921
- Pseudophidiaster H.L. Clark, 1916
- Sinoferdina Liao, 1982
- Tamaria Gray, 1840