''Coronaster briareus'' is a
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
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 ...
in 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 ...
Asteriidae
The Asteriidae are a diverse family of Asteroidea (sea stars) in the order Forcipulatida. It is one of three families in the order Forcipulatida.
The oldest unambiguous fossils of the family date to the Late Cretaceous.
Genera
The World Regi ...
.
It is fast moving and grows to nearly 30 cm. As a defense mechanism it can shed its legs, which later regenerate. This species has an established population in the Maltese waters.
References
Asteriidae
Animals described in 1882
{{Asteroidea-stub