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Astropecten articulatus |
The eastern coast of the United States is where the Royal Starfish calls home. Their normal habitat is the continental shelf, typically between 0 and 30 meters down.
It can be hard to imagine such a sedentary creature being a predator, but the Royal Starfish certainly is! They snatch up mollusks with their arms, and then guide the prey to the mouth cavity, where the prey is swallowed whole!
IUCN Status : Not listed
Location : East coast of the United States
Size : Arm length up to 4in (9cm)
Classification : Phylum : Echinodermata -- - Class : Asteroidea -- Order : Paxillosida
Family : Astropectinidae -- Genus : Astropecten -- Species : A. articulatus
Image : Project Noah
Family : Astropectinidae -- Genus : Astropecten -- Species : A. articulatus
Image : Project Noah