One Bat Starfish measuring 3 to 6 inches*****

One Bat Starfish measuring 3 to 6 inches.

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Bat Starfish

The Asterina miniata common name Bat Star, earns its name from its bat-like appearance. Its arms are not as distinctly separated as those of other starfish species, yet they are more defined than those of a sand dollar. Bat Stars display a diverse range of colors. Similar to other starfish, they reproduce by releasing their gametes into the water in a loosely synchronized manner, independent of the presence of other starfish. Bat Stars typically scavenge but can also exhibit predatory behavior. Small annelids reside in their oral grooves; while this seems not to affect the Bat Star, the benefits it may receive from this association remain uncertain.

Bat stars can reach up to 8 inches in diameter and inhabit the western coast of North America, from Alaska down to Baja California. They play a crucial role as scavengers in their ecosystems. A distinctive feature of bat stars is that the plates comprising their exoskeleton are so prominent and well-defined that they are often likened to shingles. Similar to how humans typically have five fingers, with some exceptions, bat stars usually have five arms but can have up to nine. They can be found from the intertidal zone to depths of approximately 950 feet. Bat stars occasionally prey on other starfish species. Conflicts between bat stars sometimes resemble arm wrestling matches, with each attempting to overlay its arm over the other's.

Scientific classification

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Asteroidea

Order: Valvatida

Family: Asterinidae

Genus: Patiria

Species: Patiria miniata

Binomial name: Patiria miniata

(Brandt, 1835)

(REF: Patiria miniata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 29 November 2009.)(REF: sterina miniata". www.wallawalla.edu. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2009)(REF: sea stars". biology.fullerton.edu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.)