''Parvulastra'' is a genus 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 ...

belonging to the family

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 species of this genus are found in Southern Hemisphere. The genus shows an unusual reproductive mode within

: '' Parvulastra parvivipara'' and '' Parvulastra vivipara'' are

viviparous In animals, viviparity is development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, with the maternal circulation providing for the metabolic needs of the embryo's development, until the mother gives birth to a fully or partially developed juve ...

. Prior to their description as distinct species, they were considered variants of '' Parvulastra exigua'', which has free-living (but non-feeding) larvae.

Species

There are five species: *'' Parvulastra calcarata'' *'' Parvulastra dyscrita'' *'' Parvulastra exigua'' *'' Parvulastra parvivipara'' *'' Parvulastra vivipara''

References

Asterinidae Asteroidea genera {{asteroidea-stub