Metrodira subulata

Metrodira subulata is a species of starfish in the family Echinasteridae. It is found on the seabed in shallow parts of the Indo-Pacific region.

Metrodira subulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Asteroidea
Order:	Spinulosida
Family:	Echinasteridae
Genus:	Metrodira
Species:	M. subulata
Binomial name
Metrodira subulata Gray, 1840 [1]
Synonyms[1]
Fromia subulata Perrier, 1878 Linckia subulata Gray, 1840 Scaphaster humberti de Loriol, 1899 Scytaster subulatus Müller & Troschel, 1842

Description

Metrodira subulata has long, slender tapering arms. The aboral (upper) surface has many granulations and large pores. The margins have a row of smooth plates and there are short spines at the junctions of the plates. The colour of the aboral surface is yellowish brown.^[2] The spines are red, which contrasts with the sombre body colour and is considered an aposematic trait.^[3]