Heliasteridae Family of Starfish

One Starfish of the Heliasteridae Family can be found in this website:

Gulf Sun Star, Heliaster kubiniji. A representative of the Heliasteridae Family of  Starfish.

Phylogeny: Heliasterid Sun Stars of the Heliasteridae Family are in the phylum Echinodermata. This is a large phylum that includes Brittle Stars, Sea Cucumbers, Sea Lilies, Starfish and Urchins. Heliasterid Sun Stars are in the subphylum Asterozoa, the class Asteroidea, the subclass Ambuloasteroidea, the infraclass Neoasteroidea, the superorder Forcipulatacea, and the order Forcipulatida. The Heliasteridae Family is one of five families in this order. The Heliasteridae Family contains two genera and nine species. The name Heliasteridae comes from the Greek words meaning “sun star”.

Morphology:  Heliasterid Sun Stars are medium to large sea stars, with multiple arms, wide central discs and long thin arms (although they may be stout in some species). They all have flattened flexible bodies that are covered with colored skin. They are characterized by a larval stage with bilateral symmetry and an adult stage with 5-rayed radial symmetry. They have from 9 to more than 50 arms. They lack a sharp differentiation between the ventral and dorsal sides of the disc and arms. They have crossed pedicellariae (tiny pincers) on their dorsal surface, as well as single or grouped spines. They have a unique water-vascular system that uses hydraulic power to operate a multitude of tined tube feet that are used in locomotion and food capture. Some feed via inserting the stomach out through the mouth surrounding the prey, secreting enzymes to digest the food and then retracting the stomach when finished eating. These sea stars may be brown, gray, pink, purplish, yellow or white in color, and are either solid, banded or have a mottled pattern. Heliasteridae Sun Stars reach a maximum of 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter.

Distribution:   Heliasterid Sun Stars are found on gravel, rock, mud, and sand substrates. They are found from intertidal zone to depths of 9,150 m (30,000 feet). Heliasterid Sun Stars are limited in distribution to the Eastern Pacific, where they range from Mexico to  Antarctica. Three species from this family are found in Mexican waters.  

Reproduction: Heliasterid Sun Stars are gonochoric (male or female for life). They reproduce both asexually (regeneration and clonal) and sexually. They are broadcast spawners, with external fertilization. The eggs hatch into a planktonic larva and later metamorphose into benthic, five-armed, juveniles, which add arms as they grow.

Ecosystems Role:  Heliasterid Sun Stars feed as scavengers or predators, consuming barnacles, bivalves, carrion, euphausids, fish, gastropods, isopods, sponges, and other sea stars. In turn they are preyed upon by shore birds, crabs, fish and other sea stars. The Heliasteridae Sun Stars have undergone a significant decline in some populations since 2013. Some species have suffered an 80% loss. Many attribute these losses to the Sea Star Wasting Disease, a Densovirus (Parvoviridae). Others believe other factors may be in play such as environmental stressors. Only recently have some species begun to recover, and only in certain areas.