Metazoa info

[Duke Guilmon]

Sunflower seastar



Pycnopodia helianthoides

Size: This animal has a one meter armspan

Weight: No data

When it first appeared: No data

Location: It is found from northeast Alaska to southern California. They are found in low sub-tidal areas with seaweed and kelp.  

Taxonomy:
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Forcipulatida
Family: Asteriidae
Genus: Pycnopodia
Species: Pycnopodia helianthoides

Diet: The pycnopodia helianthoides eats clams, sea urchins, snails, and small vertabrates.

Anatomy: This seastar is one of the largest of its class. It has up to 16-24 limbs. These feet have tubes which help it move quickly. It can also shed its arms

Behavior: This animal spends most of its time hunting. It can move fast, meaning that they can catch prey quickly. This speed also helps it escape predators.

Reproduction: These animals reproduce sexually and asexually. They breed during late spring to early summer. They sexually reproduce by raising their bodies up exposing a fleshy central mass, in which it releases eggs or sperm. The larvae float and develop for 2-10 weeks.



Such a pretty flower

Other sources:

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/anima...lower-star

http://pioneerunion.ca.schoolwebpages.co...ailid=2909

http://www.seastarsofthepacificnorthwest..._star.html