Order

Common name: Sand Stars

Scientific name: Paxillosida

Paxillosida is an order of sea stars commonly referred to as Sand Stars. These echinoderms are characterized by their lack of an anus and their ability to burrow into sandy substrates, a behavior that aids in their camouflage and hunting strategy. Members of this order often have a flattened body shape and are found in a variety of marine environments, from shallow waters to deep-sea habitats. They play a role in the benthic ecosystem by preying on invertebrates and are fascinating additions to a reef aquarium due to their unique morphology and behavior.

  1. Common name: Anderson's Sand Star
    Scientific name: Astropecten andersoni
  2. Red Comb Starfish (Astropecten aranciacus)
    Common name: Red Comb Starfish
    Scientific name: Astropecten aranciacus
  3. Giovane esemplare di stella marina, Astropecten bispinosus, tra la sabbia
    Common name: Bispinosus Sand Star
    Scientific name: Astropecten bispinosus
  4. Sand Sifting Sea Star - (Astropecten polycanthus)
    Common name: Sand Sifting Starfish
    Scientific name: Astropecten jonstoni
  5. Astropecten spiny sea star on silty bottom
    Common name: comb star
    Scientific name: Astropecten polyacanthus
  6. Mediterranean Sea Sand Starfish (Astropecten spinulosus)
    Common name: Sea Sand Starfish
    Scientific name: Astropecten spinulosus
  7. Common name: Seven-armed starfish
    Scientific name: Luidia ciliaris
  8. Luidia maculata Starfish strand on the beach
    Common name: seven armed sea star
    Scientific name: Luidia maculata