Oreasteridae Explained

The Oreasteridae are a family of sea stars in the class Asteroidea.

Description and characteristics

This family contains many species of regular starfishes with usually 5 arms around a stiff, convex and often brightly colored body. Whereas some species are very easy to identify, like the "pincushion seastars" (Culcita sp.), some other can be difficult to tell apart.^[1]

Selected genera

List source :

• genus Acheronaster H.E.S. Clark, 1982 -- 1 species
• genus Anthaster Döderlein, 1915 -- 1 species
• genus Anthenea Gray, 1840 -- 22 species
• genus Astrosarkus Mah, 2003 -- 1 species
• genus Bothriaster Döderlein, 1916 -- 1 species^[2]
• genus Choriaster Lutken, 1869 -- 1 species
• genus Culcita Agassiz, 1836 -- 3 species
• genus Goniodiscaster H.L. Clark, 1909 -- 14 species
• genus Gymnanthenea H.L. Clark, 1938 -- 2 species
• genus Halityle Fisher, 1913 -- 1 species
• genus Monachaster Döderlein, 1916 -- 1 species
• genus Nectriaster H.L. Clark, 1946 -- 1 species
• genus Nidorellia Gray, 1840 -- 1 species
• genus Oreaster Müller & Troschel, 1842 -- 2 species
• genus Pentaceraster Döderlein, 1916 -- 14 species
• genus Pentaster Döderlein, 1935 -- 2 species
• genus Poraster Döderlein, 1916 -- 1 species
• genus Protoreaster Döderlein, 1916 -- 3 species
• genus Pseudanthenea Döderlein, 1915 -- 1 species
• genus Pseudoreaster Verrill, 1899 -- 1 species

External links

• Web site: How to tell apart the "knobby stars" Protoreaster from Pentaceraster . Mah . Christopher L. . 24 January 2012 . The Echinoblog . .

Notes and References

1. Web site: How to tell apart the "knobby stars" Protoreaster from Pentaceraster . Mah . Christopher L. . 24 January 2012 . The Echinoblog .
2. Probably just the juvenile form of Choriaster.