Parvulastra exigua

Parvulastra exigua
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Asteroidea
Order:	Valvatida
Family:	Asterinidae
Genus:	Parvulastra
Species:	P. exigua
Binomial name
Parvulastra exigua (Lamarck, 1816)
Synonyms
Patiriella exigua

Parvulastra exigua, or the dwarf cushion star^[1] is a species of sea star. It can be found in temperate intertidal marine communities from geographically widespread sites around the southern hemisphere (including South Africa and Australia).

Description

Pentagonal body with no obvious protruding arms. Dorsal surface tiled with a small cluster of spines at each tile. Colour variegated, with bright patterns in orange, brown, green and white.^[1]

Distribution

Parvulastra exigua is found from Namibia to Mozambique on intertidal zones up to 3 m, on St Helena, St Paul, and southeastern Australia.^[1]

Natural history

Intertidal and slightly deeper, well camouflaged. Feeds on microscopic algae by everting stomach onto substrate. No planktonic larval stage.^[1]

References

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