Great basket star
Astrophyton muricatum
(Lamarck, 1816)

Description:
Easily recognized, because the arms are many branched. Color varies from dark brown to light yellowish brown.
At night, the arms are unfolded and the animal uses this net to catch plankton. During the day, the animal will curl up. When it is attached to sea feathers or sea whips, they form a tight knot not unlike a flower bud.
Size: up to 55 cm from arm tip to arm tip.

Habitat:
Inhabits reefs clinging to sea feathers or sea whips, or hides in recesses.
Depth: ranges from 6 m down to 30 m.

Distribution:
Common all over the Caribbean.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Ophiuroidea
Genus Astrophyton
Species Astrophyton muricatum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Astrophyton muricatum (Lamarck, 1816)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Great basket star [English]

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Parslow, R.E. & A.M. Clark, 1963. Ophiuroidea of the Lesser Antilles. Studies on the fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean islands, 15.

Voss, G.L., 1976. Seashore life of Florida and the Carribbean. Banyan Books, Inc. Miami, Florida.

You can continue searching for Astrophyton muricatum on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

Google | Yahoo | MSN | Wikipedia