SeaStar Starfish, The

~ Classification The kingdom is anamalia, phylum - Echinodermata, class - Asteroidea, order - Phanerozonia, family - Goniasteridae - Oreasteridae - Asteropseidae - Ophidiasteridae - Asterinidae - Asteriidae. As you see there are many types of seastars. Genus - Fromia, Species - Choriaster granulatus . ~ Habitat The northern pacific seastar is commonly found in sublittoral to subtidal areas, but also occurs in water depths down to 200m. It is rarely found on reefs or in areas with …

…upside down. ~ Body Plan Radial symmetry is usually an adaptation seen only in sessile organisms that helps the organism deal with incoming stimuli no matter what direction they come from. The seastar are unusual in that they do not show any special concentration of sensory organs and can apparently move in any direction they choose. In one year the seastar is capable of increasing its diameter by 8cm. It is capable of reproducing at 10cm.