#Troschel's Sea Star

[wandering-in-the-mist]

Some very cool new friends found at low tide yesterday!!!

#Photography #Beach #Nature #Tidepool #Seaside #Nanaimo #Eelgrass Isopod #Troschel's Sea Star #aka #Mottled Star #Western Sea Slater #Crystal Jelly #Northern Kelp Crab #or #Shield-backed Kelp Crab #Nick's Pics #DSLR #Nikon D5500 #AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR #05-27-21 #Scheduled

[bitch-dont-krill-my-vibe]

Sand sifting starfish

Astropecten polyacanthus is known by many names -  sand sifting starfish, comb sea star and spiny sea star. It grows up to 13 cm, is found in the Indo-Pacific region, and has arms lined with sharp, comb-like spines which are used for protection.

Interesting fact: it produces the same neurotoxin (Tetrodotoxin) as pufferfish, porcupine fish and triggerfish. This was discovered after a Japanese man suffered paralytic poisoning after eating a trumpet shell which had acquired the toxin via predation of the sea star.

Images: 1) Aboral surface of sea star  2) Oral surface of sea star  All Images taken at Middle Harbour 19/11/2018

References: Cork, J. (2015). Astropecten polyacanthus. [online] Australian Museum. Available at: https://australianmuseum.net.au/astropecten-polyacanthus-mller-troschel-1842 

Narita, H., Matsubara, S., Miwa, N., Akahane, S., Murakami, M., Goto, T., Nara, M., Noguchi, T., Saito, T., Shida, Y. and Hashimoto, K., 1987. Vibrio alginolyticus, a TTX-producing bacterium isolated from the starfish Astropecten polyacanthus. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, 53(4), pp.617-621.

#educational #sea star #sea stars #starfish #sand sifting starfish #sand sifting sea star #comb sea star #comb starfis #spiny sea star #spiny starfish #Astropecten polyacanthus #marine biology #animal profile #marine #biology #ecology #science #marine science #stem #studyblr #Tetrodotoxin #TTX #neurotoxin #spines #marine life