Astrophyton

Astrophyton
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Phrynophiurida
Family: Gorgonocephalidae
Subfamily: Gorgonocephalinae
Genus: Astrophyton
Fleming, 1828
Species:
A. muricatum
Binomial name
Astrophyton muricatum
(Lamarck, 1816)
Synonyms

Euryale muricatum Lamarck, 1816

Astrophyton muricatum, the giant basket star, is an echinoderm found in shallow parts of the tropical western Atlantic and throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.[1] It is the only species in the genus Astrophyton.[2] During the day, it curls up into a tight ball shape to protect itself from predators. At night, it climbs to an elevated point to feed by extending its intricately branched feeding arms in a bowl-like shape in order to snare passing plankton and other organisms from the current.

  1. ^ Encyclopedia of Life: Astrophyton muricatum
  2. ^ Sabine Stöhr & Hans Hansson (2012). Stöhr S, O'Hara T (eds.). "Astrophyton Fleming, 1828". World Ophiuroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved February 25, 2012.