''Callopatiria'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
starfish
Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish ...
of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Asterinidae
The Asterinidae are a large family of sea stars in the order Valvatida.
Description and characteristics
These are generally small sea stars, flattened dorsally and bearing very short arms, often giving a pentagonal shape in the body ;example: ...
.
Characteristics
Members of the genus ''Callopatiria'' have five long, narrow rays, rounded on the upper surface and tapering to a rounded tip. The body is flat on the oral (under) surface but convex on the aboral (upper) surface. The plates on the rays are irregular and are covered by numerous glassy spinelets, finger-like on the primary plates and narrowly conical on the secondary plates. No
pedicellaria
A pedicellaria (plural: pedicellariae) is a small wrench- or claw-shaped appendage with movable jaws, called valves, commonly found on echinoderms (phylum Echinodermata), particularly in sea stars (class Asteroidea) and sea urchins (class Echinoi ...
e are present and the papular spaces are large with numerous papulae.
Species
* ''
Callopatiria cabrinovici'' O'Loughlin, 2009
* ''
Callopatiria formosa'' (Mortensen, 1933)
* ''
Callopatiria granifera'' (Gray, 1847)
References
Asterinidae
{{Asteroidea-stub