The Brown Mesh Sea Star, Nardoa galatheae, is a genus of sea stars in the family Ophidiasteridae. The Ophidiasteridae are a family of sea stars with about 30 genera. Occurring both in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, ophidiasterids are greatest in diversity in the Indo-Pacific. Many of the genera in this family exhibit brilliant colors and patterns, which sometimes can be attributed to aposematism and crypsis to protect themselves from predators. stella marina nardoa

Brown Mesh Sea Star – Stella marina Nardoa – Nardoa galatheae – www.intotheblue.it – www.intotheblue.link
Some ophidiasterids possess remarkable powers of regeneration, enabling them to either reproduce asexually or to survive serious damage made by predators or forces of nature (an example for this is the genus Linckia). Some species belonging to Linckia, Ophidiaster and Phataria shed single arms that regenerate the disc and the remaining rays to form a complete individual. Some of these also reproduce asexually by parthenogenesis. The name of the family is taken from the genus Ophidiaster, whose limbs are slender, semitubular and serpentine.

Brown Mesh Sea Star – Stella marina Nardoa – Nardoa galatheae – www.intotheblue.it – www.intotheblue.link
Brown Mesh Sea Star belongs to phyilum Echinodermata. Echinoderms possess a unique water vascular system. This is a network of fluid-filled canals derived from the coelom (body cavity) that function in gas exchange, feeding, sensory reception and locomotion. This system varies between different classes of echinoderm but typically opens to the exterior through a sieve-like madreporite on the aboral (upper) surface of the animal. The madreporite is linked to a slender duct, the stone canal, which extends to a ring canal that encircles the mouth or oesophagus. From this, radial canals extend along the arms of asteroids and adjoin the test in the ambulacral areas of echinoids.

Brown Mesh Sea Star – Stella marina Nardoa – Nardoa galatheae – www.intotheblue.it – www.intotheblue.link
Short lateral canals branch off the radial canals, each one ending in an ampulla. Part of the ampulla can protrude through a pore (or a pair of pores in sea urchins) to the exterior and is known as a podium or tube feet. The water vascular system assists with the distribution of nutrients throughout the animal’s body and is most obviously expressed in the tube feet which can be extended or contracted by the redistribution of fluid between the foot and the internal sac.