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Diplopteraster multipes (Sars, 1865)
Cushion Star
Family: Pterasteridae
Extracted from Sea Stars of British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and Puget Sound by Philip Lambert.
Introduction to the Echinoderms of BC

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #6741)

Map

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Distribution of Diplopteraster multipes in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


Family Description:

The aboral side of body is inflated and the oral side flat. A supra dorsal membrane supported by the spines of the paxillae covers the true aboral surface to create a nidamental chamber. In the centre of this membrane is a large opening (osculum). Many smaller spiracles pierce the rest of the membrane. On each side of the ambulacral furrow is a wide actinolateral membrane supported by long spines; between the spines are small holes, each guarded by an operculum, which lead to the nidamental chamber; water enters here and is expelled through the osculum. No oral intermediate plates.

Illustration

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Illustration Source: : Sea Stars of British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and Puget Sound by Philip Lambert

Species Information

Diplopteraster multipes is a plump, pentagonal sea star with the aboral surface bristling with spines that protrude through the supradorsal membrane. The alternating adambulacral spine arrangement is characteristic of this species. The body is purple-red aborally and greyish-white orally, with reddish-orange tube feet. D. multipes has five arms (rarely six) up to 10 em long. The ratio of arm to disc ranges from 1.2 to 1.6. The aboral supradorsal membrane is pierced by the central spine of each paxilla and 8 to 20 pores or spiracles. The central spine is surrounded by 7 to 9 shorter, slender spines. A large pore, the osculum, in centre of aboral surface opens and closes as water is expelled. The number of spines in the transverse combs of the adambulacrals alternates from 3 or 4 per plate to 4 or 5. Every other comb is set back slightly from the furrow. The mouth plates have 4 or 5 marginal spines and 1 slender suboral spine.

Characteristics



Similar Species

Diplopteraster multipes is similar in shape to Pteraster but the protruding spines distinguish this species. Pteraster militaris and P. tesselatus are commonly seen in shallow water, but D. multipes is not.

Biology


The stomach contents of collected D. multipes included brittle star fragments and sand. Off Oregon, two specimens had stomachs partially everted when collected, suggesting extra-oral digestion of prey, like most sea stars. D. multipes secretes copious amounts of phosphorescent mucus.

Distribution

Distribution

Circumpolar; in the Atlantic, from the Arctic to Chesapeake Bay and southwest of Ireland, 91 to 1225 metres deep; in the Pacific, to northern Japan and San Diego, California, at depths of 57 to 1171 metres; and off the coast of South Africa. Found on mud, sand and gravel. Uncommon in this region (the area from Glacier Bay to Puget Sound to a depth to 200 metres).

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Pteraster multipes Sars

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Ocean Biogeographic Information System Distribution Map

General References

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