Leptasterias pusilla | |
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The whelk Nucella lima being attacked by Leptasterias hexactis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Asteroidea |
Order: | Forcipulatida |
Family: | Asteriidae |
Genus: |
Leptasterias Verrill, 1866 |
Species | |
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Leptasterias is a genus of starfish in the family Asteriidae. Members of this genus are characterised by having six arms although five-armed specimens sometimes occur. Asteracanthion muelleri is the type species. The taxonomy of the genus is confusing and Leptasterias hexactis seems to be a species complex. Some species brood their eggs.
The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species: