Parvulastra exigua

Parvulastra exigua
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Asteroidea
Order:	Valvatida
Family:	Asterinidae
Genus:	Parvulastra
Species:	P. exigua
Binomial name
	Parvulastra exigua; (Lamarck, 1816)
Synonyms
	Patiriella exigua

Parvulastra exigua, or the dwarf cushion star^[1] is a species of sea star. It can be found in temperate intertidal marine communities from geographically widespread sites around the southern hemisphere (including South Africa and Australia).

Description[]

Pentagonal body with no obvious protruding arms. Dorsal surface tiled with a small cluster of spines at each tile. Colour variegated, with bright patterns in orange, brown, green and white.^[1]

Distribution[]

Parvulastra exigua is found from Namibia to Mozambique on intertidal zones up to 3 m, on St Helena, St Paul, and southeastern Australia.^[1]

Natural history[]

Intertidal and slightly deeper, well camouflaged. Feeds on microscopic algae by everting stomach onto substrate. No planktonic larval stage.^[1]

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9

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[Jones_2008-1] Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9

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