{"product_id":"astrophyton-muricatum-atlantic-giant-basket-star-expert-only","title":"Astrophyton muricatum - Atlantic Giant Basket Star (EXPERT ONLY)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the most extraordinary echinoderms of the western Atlantic, Astrophyton muricatum is a large basket star distinguished by five primary arms that repeatedly divide into hundreds of increasingly fine branches. When fully extended, these branches form an intricate living net capable of spanning an impressive area. Despite the common name “basket starfish,” this species is actually an ophiuroid, making it more closely related to brittle stars than to true sea stars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts appearance is matched by an equally unusual feeding strategy. Rather than crawling across the substrate in search of food, A. muricatum climbs onto elevated structures and unfurls its branching arms into moving water. Tiny hooks along the arms intercept zooplankton, including copepods and invertebrate larvae, which are then transferred toward the central mouth. In nature, this behavior occurs primarily at night, while the animal typically remains tightly coiled and sheltered during daylight hours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCultivation \u0026amp; Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Atlantic basket stars are fully aquacultured and maintained within mature, high-biodiversity marine ecosystems. They are conditioned alongside the diverse microorganisms and invertebrate life characteristic of our established systems rather than being kept as short-term display animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e100% aquacultured within our own systems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaintained in mature, high-biodiversity marine ecosystems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCarefully selected for intact arms and healthy responsiveness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eObserved for normal extension and feeding behavior\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConditioned within stable, biologically active water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeeding \u0026amp; Behavior\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuspension feeder specialized for capturing zooplankton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtends its branching arms into current to form a living feeding net\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTypically becomes most active after dark\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses elevated structures as feeding perches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRapidly coils its arms in response to disturbance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe transformation between resting and feeding behavior is remarkable. A tightly folded individual can gradually unfold into an elaborate three-dimensional network of branching arms, dramatically increasing the area available for intercepting passing prey. Field observations have documented strong site fidelity, with individuals repeatedly using established locations for feeding. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/repository.si.edu\/bitstreams\/bb0c0ba8-1e11-497b-a911-0abac9bdcdc7\/download?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe regenerative capabilities of this species are exceptional. Smithsonian aquarists documented an A. muricatum spontaneously dividing through its central disc, after which both portions survived, continued feeding, and regenerated. It was the first documented case of this form of asexual reproduction in the species. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquarium Integration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRequires consistent access to appropriately sized suspended foods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBenefits from moderate water movement for suspension feeding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRequires branching rockwork or similar elevated structures for perching\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBest suited to established systems with highly stable water conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDelicate branching arms should be protected from aggressive tankmates and mechanical damage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its nocturnal behavior, extreme arm branching, and specialized plankton-capture strategy, Astrophyton muricatum is one of the closest things the Atlantic has to a genuinely alien-looking reef organism. A fully extended specimen provides a rare opportunity to observe a feeding architecture that looks almost engineered for the sole purpose of extracting microscopic life from moving seawater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seafarer's Reef","offers":[{"title":"\u003e3 in","offer_id":56543594283313,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/2574\/9297\/files\/basketstar1.png?v=1790735660","url":"https:\/\/seafarers-reef.com\/products\/astrophyton-muricatum-atlantic-giant-basket-star-expert-only","provider":"Seafarer's Reef","version":"1.0","type":"link"}