Occurrence of abnormal starfish Astropecten indicus (Doderlein, 1888) (Echinodermata: Astroidea) along Southeast coast of India

Autores

  • PRABHU kOLANDHASAMY CAS in Marine Biology
  • Bragadeeswaran Subramanian

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2012v25n4p293

Resumo

Starfish Astropecten indicus was collected from bycatch landings at Mudasalodai fishing harbour, Tamil Nadu (India) in November 2011. Totally 134 specimens collected among three specimens (2,2%) have abnormally developed four and six arms. Normally, A. indicus has five arms and the deviation from pentamerism is a rare phenomenon in starfishes. The present observations suggest that deviations from pentamerism are not a heritable character but are a consequence of environmental perturbations on the metamorphosis of larvae and/or abnormal regeneration of arms.



Biografia do Autor

PRABHU kOLANDHASAMY, CAS in Marine Biology

CAS in Marine Biology

Publicado

2012-08-09

Edição

Seção

Short Communication