| Astrophyton | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific 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.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life: Astrophyton muricatum
- ^ 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.