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The Basket Star (Astrospartus mediterraneus Risso, 1826) is an echinoderm of the gorgonocephalidae family. stella marina gorgone Astrospartus mediterraneus echinoderma
Stella marina gorgone, Basket star Astrospartus mediterraneus intotheblue.it
Etymology
The scientific name comes from aster (star in Latin) and Spartos (shrub in Latin). The English name (basket star) is derived from the habit of curling up in the basket (basket, in English) during the day with branched arms. The Italian name of gorgonian star comes from the myth of the Gorgon (Medusa, Steno and Euryale) figures of Greek mythology, who had snakes instead of hair.
Description
Astrospartus mediterraneus, has five tentacles, each branched repeatedly, with which clings to the branches of gorgonians, which are open at night to feed. The body has a diameter of 8 centimeters, with the opening of the tentacles of the maximum width of the entire animal arrives to 80 centimeters. stella marina gorgone Astrospartus mediterraneus echinoderma
Astrospartus Reproduction – intotheblue.it
Supply
It is an animal passive filter feeder which feeds, via open tentacles, especially microparticles planktonic.
Habitat and distribution
Very rare, and typically photophobic night. It is located in the western Mediterranean Sea, on the Atlantic Ocean and on the coasts of Spain and Senegal; common in Algeria and Morocco. He lives from 30 meters depth up to 800 meters, generally on branches of Paramuricea clavata, Eunicella singularis or on sponges.
Astrospartus Reproduction – intotheblue.it
In Italy it was reported in the Straits of Messina, close to Scylla, to over 45 meters deep, in the island of Giglio seabed (in Punta del Fenaio, that dips up to 90 meters), on the Tor Paterno shoals, near Rome, 30 meters deep. Archipelago of La Maddalena in Sardinia. In Tuscany in Secche di Vada and near Livorno in Romito, Calafuria.
Gallery
Video Gallery
Unfortunately we have not yet found the Stella Gorgone in Sardinia. All the photos for now have been taken off the coast of Tuscany, in this post you can see some of them:
https://www.intotheblue.it/2020/12/06/the-reefs-of-lighthouse-vada-near-livorno/
Thanks Andrea
Hello, is it possible that you can tell me which pictures of the Basket Star was taken in Sardinia? Do you have more info like depth, date, diving places? Thank you!
Thanks for the terrific article