User:Medtrails/Pacific Blood Star

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Pacific Blood Star[edit]

Pacific Blood Star
Sea star in sea grass
Scientific classification
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Species:
H. leviuscula
Binomial name
Henricia leviuscula

Species Description[edit]

The Pacific Blood Star can usually be identified by their bright orange red color, but there can also be many variations from tan to almost purple. The disk can be a mottled gray color, but the rays are not mottled.[1]The rays are slender and appear smooth due to the lack of pedicellariae and spine. The species is relatively small, the diameter is usually over 8cm and rarely gets bigger then 12cm.[2]

Range and Habitat[edit]

The Pacific Blood Star is a marine species found along the Pacific coast. It's range is from Alaska to Baja California. It's habitat is the intertidal zone under rocks and protected places from the low-tide line to about 400m deep. They mainly feed on sponges and small bacteria.[3]

Breeding[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kozloff, E. N. (1996). Marine Invertabrates of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle : University of Washington Press.
  2. ^ Kozloff, E. N. (1993). Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
  3. ^ Meinkoth, N. A. (1981). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North America Seashore Creatures. New York: Chanticleer Press, Inc.

External links[edit]

http://seanet.stanford.edu/RockyShore/Echinodermata/index.html#Henricia

http://enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?allSpecies=y&searchText=henricia%20leviuscula&curGroupID=8&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=1

http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/biology/rosario/inverts/Echinodermata/Class%20Asteroidea/Henricia_leviuscula.html