Anne Isabelley Gondim, Martin Lindsey Christoffersen, Thelma Lúcia Pereira Dias
Zookeys
Figure 3.Some species of the family Luidiidae recorded in northeastern Brazil. Luidia alternata alternata (A–D). A Abactinal view, in detail the paxilla B Actinal view, in detail the pedicellariae C Abactinal view of the arm D Actinal view of the arm; Luidia clathrata (E–H) E Abactinal view F Actinal view, in detail the mouth G Abactinal view of the arm, in detail the paxilla, and H Actinal view of the arm.
Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the voyage of H.M.S. 'Alert' 1881-2.London :Printed by order of the Trustees,1884. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12067698
The sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) is a large predatory sea star usually with 1624 limbs called rays. It is the largest sea star in the world. Sunflower sea stars can grow to have an arm span of 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) in diameter.[2] The color of the sunflower sea star ranges from bright orange, yellow and red to brown and sometimes to purple, with soft, velvet-textured bodies and 1624 arms with powerful suckers.[2][3] Most sea star species have a mesh-like skeleton that protects their internal organs.[4] Easily stressed by predators such as large fish and other sea stars, they can shed arms to escape, which will grow back within a few weeks. They are preyed upon by the king crab.[4]