Abstract
DESPITE the relative abundance of Asterias rubens in English waters, detailed knowledge of its size range and regenerative powers is scant. Measurements of size arid growth rate have been made1–3 but without reference to limb damage. King4,5 noted that 11 per cent of the individuals of A. vulgaris observed off the coast of Massachusetts showed regeneration of one or more arms. Hancock6 noted that in laboratory conditions, both the stone crab, Hyas araneus and the common sunstar, Solaster papposus, preyed on A. rubens causing limb damage. This communication presents arm size distribution curves of Asterias rubens and the relation of arm damage to arm position and arm size.
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References
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MARSH, N. Arm Length and Arm Damage in Asterias rubens. Nature 218, 1175–1176 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/2181175a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2181175a0
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