Asterinidae

The Asterinidae are a large family of sea stars in the order Valvatida.

== Description and characteristics == These are generally small sea stars, flattened dorsally and bearing very short arms, often giving a pentagonal shape in the body ;example: Asterians rubens (except in some species possessing more than five arms). The periphery of the body is thin and formed by indistinct, tiny marginal plates. They are characterized by their aboral face formed by plates shaped like crescents, sometimes giving a "knitted" appearance to the skin.