Directory of Asteroidea Resources

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The class Stelleroidea or Asteroidea are the starfish, with about 1500 species. They have star-shaped bodies with 5 or more arms attached to a central disc with no obvious joint. They travel with their many tube feet. Most are scavengers or opportunistic predators and some can prise open the tightly closed shells of a clam and digest the contents.

Resources in This Category

• ADW: Subclass Asteroidea

  http://animaldiversity.org/site/accounts/information/Asteroidea.html
  Photographs and information on the sea stars and starfishes from the Animal Diversity Web.

• Amphiod pulchella

  http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Amphiod_pulchel.htm
  Taxonomy and photographs of this brittlestar.

• Amphioplus thrombodes

  http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Amphiop_thromb.htm
  Taxonomy and photograph of this brittlestar.

• Asterias rubens: The Common Starfish

  http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/richards_mic2/
  Research project by Michael Richardson on this species, including its classification, habitat, adaptations, nutrition, reproduction and interactions with other species.

• Asteroidea

  http://tolweb.org/Asteroidea/
  Introduction, characteristics, phylogenetic relationships and fossil record of the sea stars and starfishes, from the Tree of Life Web Project.

• Chocolate Chip Starfish

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artnov04macro/jpstarfish.html
  Photographic study by Jaclin Pisano of Protoreaster nodosus with some fine images.

• Common Starfish: Asterias rubens

  http://www.arkive.org/common-starfish/asterias-rubens/
  Photographs and information from ARKive including classification, status, description, range, habitat, biology, threats and conservation.

• Growth of a Starfish

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art98/janstar.html
  Article on the development of a starfish by Jan Parmentier with many fascinating photographs.

• Stelleroidea

  http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/etext/hoosier/PA-24.html
  Illustration and brief description of these stemless echinoderms that have a central disc from which five or more arms radiate.

• Wikipedia: Starfish

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroidea
  Encyclopedia article on the starfish or sea stars belonging to the class Asteroidea.

Related Categories

• Home > Kids and Teens > School Time > Science > Living Things > Animals > Invertebrates > Starfish

 

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