Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Asteroida

Order: Valvatida

Family: Goniasteridae

Scientific name: Hippasteria phrygiana

 

Norwegian: hestestjerne

(Leksvik - The Trondheim fjord / 15 meters / 4.08.2001)

Distribution: The rigid cushion star is common along the entire Norwegian coast. It can be found on depths between 10 and 100 meters, usually on hard sea floor.

Characteristics: The color is yellow or orange and the surface is covered by small white warts or tubercles. Along the edges the warts are prolonged into small spines. Each spine is sitting on a shell plate. The rigid cushion star can grow to a diameter of 20 cm.

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