Does anybody know all 1,600 species of SeaStars?

Question

Does anybody know all 1,600 species of SeaStars?

Answer 1

I should hope not. I can't remember the latin name of half the mammals I studied anymore.  It requires too much effort to remember on a day to day basis. I can't remember the 1600 kids I have taught through the years.  It would be too much effort on such a small slice of diversity. they would have little left to talk about over dinner.

even other zoologists would have a hard time making converstation with someone like that.  

Answer 2

You might to try to find a marine biologist with a specialty in sea stars  

Answer 3

I or anybody could look them up. I  did not know there were 1,600 species of seastars.  There are books Biologists use to  know the obscure details that differentiate them, and even their names.  I doubt there is anybody who really could tell you all the difference from an obscure species just by looking at it.  Most people are probably satisfied with being able to identify it as a Sea Star.

Answer 4

Nope.  That would be impossible.  Besides that, the taxonomy of sea stars is not well understood.  So there are probably fewer species.  More will be known when their genomes are studied.  The results of genome studies is usually a reduction of known species.

Answer 5

I have met biologist who have encyclopedic knowledge of the organisms that they study!  But even an expert may need to refer to printed sources to verify the species of starfish, mammal, or any other group.

So it is highly likely there are zoologists specializing in starfish who could easily ID what ever species they may come across!

Answer 6

i only know 17

Answer 7

yeah i no all of them but i cant write all the names down