1. Phylum Echinodermata
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Oreasteridae
Genus: Protoreaster
Species: linckii
Scientific Name: Protoreaster linckii
Common Name: Red-knobbed
Description:
It has a temperature range of 75 to 83°F (24 - 28°C). Grows to about 12 inches (30
cm) in the wild and not suited for the reef aquarium as it consumes algae,
anemones, gorgonians, soft corals, sponges, clams, urchins, tube worms, and even
sleeping fish.
It has a thick, gray body with multiple bright red tubercles extending upward along
each of its five arms. Red stripes connect these protrusions, giving its back the
appearance of wires interconnecting in a grid-like fashion.
The Red-knobbed Starfish requires a large aquarium with ample supplies of live
rock. A small specimen will eat algae. As it grows older, however, it is not reef
compatible, as it will eat soft corals, sponges, tubeworms, clams, starfish, and
other invertebrates. It should not be housed with Puffers. It is very sensitive to
high levels of copper-based medications and will not tolerate high levels of
nitrates.
2. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteriodea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Oreasteridae
Genus: Protoreaster
Species: nodusus
Scientific Name: Protoreaster nodosus
Common Name: Horned Sea Star
Description:
Large sea star, with five conical, short, thick arms. They feed on mollusks, worms,
detritus and sponges. Length - 30cm; Depth - 5-40m
Sea Stars have remarkable regenerative powers, when attacked and damaged by
predators they are able to grow new arms. They usually have five arms but have
been found with 4 or 6 arms, this may be because more than one arm has been
damaged at one time. Sometimes small parasitic limpets can be found on the
underside of arms which can deform the arms.They possess a cleverly evolved
arsenal of hydraulic tube feet connected to an elaborate water-vascular system that
encircles the animal's mouth and extends via five radial canals down the center of
each arm.Their mouth is underneath, but their prey is absorbed outside their
mouths by forcing out their digestive organs from their stomach.Sea Stars are
carnivores and feed on almost any food including mollusks, worms, detritus and
each other. Some sea stars like the crown of thorns can be venomous.
3. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteriodea
Order: Paxillosida
Family: Astropectinida
Genus: Astropecten
Species: polycanthus
Scientific Name: Astropecten polycanthus
Common Names: Sand shifting sea star
Description:
The Sand Sifting Sea Star, at first glance, seems to be drably colored like most
bottom dwellers. But closer inspection reveals a striking beauty and serenity to
the alternating bands of brown and beige that dress this invertebrate's thick,
spine-covered arms. Like other starfish, Astropecten polycanthus efficiently
consumes mass amounts of detritus and uneaten foods. This nocturnally active
member of the Astropectinidae family can move large amounts of sand as it
burrows into the substrate in its search for food.
This peaceful omnivore will effectively clean even the largest home aquarium
of detritus and left over food. Like other starfish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star will
also consume small invertebrates, including shrimp, urchins, mollusks, bivalves,
or other small sea stars. As such, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be actively
fed a varied diet consisting of natural food sources, especially in well-
established marine aquariums. Otherwise, this voracious feeder will quickly
clean your aquarium of detritus and then burrow into your substrate, starve,
and eventually begin to decay.
To foster its feeding habits, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be kept in
aquariums with large, deep sand bottoms of several inches in depth. Since it is
slower moving than most fish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should not be housed
with natural predators, including Puffers.
4. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Ophiurida
Family: Ophiotrichidae
Genus: Ophiocoma
Species: Echinata
Scientific Name: Ophiocoma echinata
Common Names: Black brittle star
Description:
Brittle stars or ophiuroids are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea closely
related tostarfish. They crawl across the seafloor using their flexible arms for
locomotion. The ophiuroids generally have five long slender, whip-like arms
which may reach up to 60 centimetres (24 in) in length on the largest
specimens. They are also known as serpent stars.
Ophiuroidea contains two large clades, Ophiurida (brittle stars)
and Euryalida (basket stars). Many of the ophiuroids are rarely encountered in
the relatively shallow depths normally visited by humans, but they are a
diverse group. There are over 2,000 species of brittle stars living today. More
than 1200 of these species are found in deep waters, greater than 200 metres
deep.
5. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Ophidiasteridae
Genus: Linckia
Species: Guildingi
Scientific Name: Linckia guildingi
Common Name: Yellow sea star
Description:
L. guildingi has a small disc and usually 5 (occasionally 4 or 6) long cylindrical arms.
The upper surface appears smooth but is in fact rough to the touch with low, firm
nodules. Though this starfish is often green, it comes in a range of colours including
various shades of brown, blue and dull red.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinodea
Order: Echinoida
Family: Strongylocentrotidae
Genus: Strongylocentrotus
Species: purpuratus
Scientific Name:Echinoidea
Common Names: Sea urchins
Description:
Sea urchins or urchins, sometimes called sea hedgehogs, are small, spiny,
globular animals which, with their close kin, such assand dollars, constitute the
class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. There are c. 950 species of
echinoids inhabiting all oceans from the intertidal to 5000 meters deep.Their
shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in)
across. Common colors include black and dull shades of green, olive, brown,
purple, blue, and red. They move slowly, feeding mostly on algae. Sea
otters, wolf eels, triggerfish, and other predators feed on them.
6. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Apodida
Family: Synaptidae
Genus: Euapta
Species: lappa
Scientific Name: Euapta lappa
Common Name: Beaded Sea Cucumber
Description:
The beaded sea cucumber resembles a long worm rather than a sea cucumber. It
can reach up to a meter (yard) in length and has a diameter of up to 4 cm (1.6 in).
It lengthens and shortens repeatedly and when disturbed, the normally flaccid
body retracts vigorously to a fraction of its original length.
It has no internal respiratory tree, nor does it have tube feet, and the body
surface is covered by rounded ridges. The skeletal structure consists of many tiny
calcareous plates embedded in the cuticle.
Little hooks project from these ossicles and make the body feel sticky to the
touch. At the anterior (front) of the animal there is a ring of fifteen branched
feeding tentacles. The body colour is pale brown or grey, often with white flecks
or darker, longitudinal streaks and transverse banding.