Metrodira subulata

Metrodira subulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Asteroidea
Order:	Spinulosida
Family:	Echinasteridae
Genus:	Metrodira
Species:	M. subulata
Binomial name
	Metrodira subulata; Gray, 1840
Synonyms
	Fromia subulata Perrier, 1878); Linckia subulata Gray, 1840; Scaphaster humberti de Loriol, 1899; Scytaster subulatus Müller & Troschel, 1842;

Metrodira subulata is a species of starfish in the family Echinasteridae. It is found on the seabed in shallow parts of the Indo-Pacific region.

Description

Metrodira subulata has long, slender tapering arms. The aboral (upper) surface has many granulations and large pores. The margins have a row of smooth plates and there are short spines at the junctions of the plates. The colour of the aboral surface is yellowish-brown.^[2] The spines are red, which contrasts with the sombre body colour and is considered an aposematic trait. ^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b Mah, Christopher (2010). Mah CL (ed.). "Metrodira subulata Gray, 1840". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
^ The annals and magazine of natural history, zoology, botany and geology: incorporating the journal of botany. Taylor & Francis. 1841. p. 282.
^ Inbar, Moshe; Lev-Yadun, Simcha (2005). "Conspicuous and aposematic spines in the animal kingdom". Naturwissenschaften. 92 (4): 170–172. doi:10.1007/s00114-005-0608-2.

[WoRMS-1] Mah, Christopher (2010). Mah CL (ed.). "Metrodira subulata Gray, 1840". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-07-23.

[2] The annals and magazine of natural history, zoology, botany and geology: incorporating the journal of botany. Taylor & Francis. 1841. p. 282.

[3] Inbar, Moshe; Lev-Yadun, Simcha (2005). "Conspicuous and aposematic spines in the animal kingdom". Naturwissenschaften. 92 (4): 170–172. doi:10.1007/s00114-005-0608-2.

[1]

[2]

[3]