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The variation ("polymorphism", in this case, a "color morph") most commonly found is pure blue, dark blue, or light blue, although observers find the aqua, purple, or orange variation throughout the ocean. These sea stars may grow up to 30 cm (11.8 in) in diameter, with rounded tips at each of the arms; some individuals may bear lighter or ...
This group includes the cushion stars, [113] the leather star [114] and the sea daisies. [115] Velatida (4 families, 16 genera, 138 species) [116] This order of starfish consists mostly of deep-sea and other cold-water starfish often with a global distribution. The shape is pentagonal or star-shaped with five to fifteen arms.
In a study comparing seastar righting behavior the Henricia leviuscula twisted arms 1 and 3 toward each other, used arms 4 and 5 to support itself on the bottom of the tank, and moved arm 2 up so it was in a sitting-like position, and began to flip itself over.
The animal remains stationary while the ray, using its tube feet for purchase, pulls and twists itself away from the disc until the tissue connecting the two breaks. The separated ray is known as a "comet" and a new disc and a number of new rays start to grow on the damaged surface, a process that takes about six months to complete.
It is sometimes known as the blue seastar or tan starfish, but both these names are also used for other species (e.g., blue seastar for Linckia laevigata). It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean where it ranges from the Gulf of California and Magdalena Bay (Mexico) to northwest Peru , including various eastern Pacific island groups such as ...
These sea slugs live in the pelagic zone (open ocean), where they float upside-down by using the surface tension of the water to stay afloat. They are carried along by the winds and ocean currents. G. atlanticus makes use of countershading; the blue side of their bodies faces upwards, blending in with the blue of the water. The silver/grey side ...
M. aequalis is both an omnivore and a predator and will scavenge for dead animals and detritus. As well as feeding on algae, it preys on tunicates (such as sea pork), sea pens, sponges, bryozoans, brachiopods and polychaete worms. In its turn it is hunted by the larger morning sun star. It can move at the rate of 40 cm (16 in) per minute, which ...
The damaged tissues take about 10 days to heal and the animal grows a new arm over the course of several months. The detached arm is known as a "comet" and moves about independently. It takes about 10 months to regenerate a new disk with arms 0.5 inch (1 cm) in length.