seastar Perknaster aurorae

Perknaster aurorae is found in the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia Island, and Shag Rocks, and probably throughout Antarctica, from 18 to 310 meters depth [1,4,5]. P. aurorae has a large convex disc and long arms that are wide at the base [1]. P. aurorae has been collected at sizes up to fourteen centimeters in radius from its center to the tip of an arm [1,3]. The dorsal color of P. aurorae ranges from brick with dark red markings to beige with brick bands along the arms and on the disc; the ventral color is pale yellow, with dark red interradial bands that reach the oral region [1,2].



Here's a closer view of Perknaster aurorae.

1: Equinodermos Antarticos. II. Asteroideos. 5. Asteroideos de la Extremidad Norte de la Peninsula Antartica. I Bernasconi. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" e Instituto Nacional de Investigacion de las Ciencias Naturales. Zoologia (aka Ciencias Zoologicas) 9(10):211-281 and plates, 1970; 2: Isidro Bosch, personal communication, 1999; 3: AM Clark. B.A.N.Z. Antarctic Research Expedition 1929-1931. Reports, Series B (Zoology and Botany) Volume 9, Asteroidea. Adelaide : BANZAR Expedition Committee, 1962; 4: Discovery Reports 20:69-306 and plates, 1940; 5: Tethys 6(3):631-653, 1974

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