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Family: Asterinaceae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Coral reefs, particularly on the reef flat, and spur-and-groove zones, usually under coral rubble or rock, or in the reef framework. Distribution: Caribbean Depth: Low-tide mark to 15 m. Characteristics: A. folium is tiny, rarely exceeding 2.5 cm in diameter. It is generally pentagonal with mostly flat dorsal and ventral surfaces; the radial areas of the disk are slightly convex. The dorsal surface is covered with overlapping scales, and the proximal edge of many scales in the radial area is notched for passage of a single papula. There are six longitudinal rows of papulae in each radius. The body's margin is fringed by a series of short, webbed spines. The interradial plates on the oral surface bear three to five small, acute spines. The spines adjacent to the ambulacral groove are embedded in a stiff membrane. Small individuals are mostly white, medium-sized are yellow or yellowish red, and large individuals are blue to blue-green. |
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