genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
starfish
Starfish or sea stars are Star polygon, star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class (biology), class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to brittle star, ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to ...
of the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
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: ...
. The genus is found in shallow waters off South Africa, down to a depth of about .
Characteristics
Members of the genus ''Callopatiria'' have five long, narrow rays, rounded on the upper surface and tapering to a rounded tip. They are medium-sized, reaching a radius of in ''Callopatiria granifera''. 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 (: 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 Echinoidea).
...
e are present and the papular spaces are large with numerous papulae.