COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY AND LOCOMOTORY COORDINATION OF THE TUBE FEET OF ICONASTER LONGIMANUS AND STELLASTER EQUESTRIS
KOH CHUAN AIK BERNARD
KOH CHUAN AIK BERNARD
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Abstract
The suckered tube feet of Iconaster longimanus and Stellaster equestris
were examined using light and electron microscopy. The structural
organization of both starfishes follows that of a typical asteroid tube foot.
The Stellaster tube foot, however, differs from that of Iconaster in terms of
the thickness of the mucles and the connective tissue layer, and also in the
distribution of the secretory granules in the tube foot epithelium. The
unusual motion of the Stellaster and the coordination of its tube feet
movement were also observed using video recording system. A large
majority of the Stellaster tube feet were observed to beat in synchrony in the
same direction, producing a sudden rapid motion measured at 0.87 cms-1,
resulting in a discontinuous movement. This is not reported in any literature
on asteroid mode of locomotion. The Stellaster tube feet were also observed
not to be firmly attached to the horizontal substratum during the stepping
process. It is postulated that the morphology of the Stellaster tube feet and
its mode of locomotion could be an adaptation to its muddy environment.
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1996
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