Forcipulata

echinoderm order

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June 26, 2026

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The Forcipulata are the most specialized order of starfishes (sea stars) within the phylum Echinodermata. They are distinguished by their possession of stalked, pincer-like organs called pedicellariae, which have three ossicles. These pedicellariae serve protective and sometimes food-gathering functions.12

Sea stars, in general, are marine invertebrates with a spiny covering or skin and typically five arms radiating from a central disk. They inhabit all oceans and vary greatly in size. Sea stars can regenerate lost arms. Their feeding habits range from active predation on prey like shellfish to external digestion by everting their stomach. They reproduce sexually, with most species having separate sexes, though some can reproduce asexually. The Forcipulata order includes common shallow-water species that prey on bivalves.3245

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sea star
…two-valved pedicellariae comprise the order Forcipulata—the “forceps carriers.” The pedicellariae have protective and, sometimes, food-taking functions. In most species the arms are long and rounded, and the disk is small. The order includes common shallow-water species worldwide—among them predators on bivalves such as clams, oysters, and mussels—such as Asterias rubens…
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…two-valved pedicellariae comprise the order Forcipulata—the “forceps carriers.” The pedicellariae have protective and, sometimes, food-taking functions. In most species the arms are long and rounded, and the disk is small. The order includes common shallow-water species worldwide—among them predators on bivalves such as clams, oysters, and mussels—such as Asterias rubens…
Read More