Northern Blood Star

Henricia sanguinolenta is an invertebrate. It has slender five rays that taper evenly to tips that are connected by a central disc. The sea star grows to a diameter of 5 to 12 centimeters. On the oral side, the rays are smooth and have an ambulacral groove that contains two tube foot rows. On the dorsal side, the rays are rough with groupings of spinelets, each one have three to six glassy points. The sides of the rays are curving and smooth. The rays contain many of the organs in the sea star. On the tips of the rays are the eyespots. These are dark pigmented organs that sense the presence of light. The rays also contain parts of the pyloric stomach, parts of the nervous system, and most other organs.

Henricia sanguinolenta is found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. The sea star can be seen on the beach, under rocks, in tidal pools when available, and on gravel. Its aquatic biomes are the coastal and benthic zones. The sea star is almost always found near sponges and coral because of the currents they create, making it easier for the sea star to filter feed. Henricia sanguinolenta is found from depths of 0 to 2414 meters.

Henricia sanguinolenta is a planktivore and carnivore. The sea star filter feeds upon detritus and plankton floating in the water, and uses currents made by sponges or coral to make this process easier. Henricia feeds on plankton, sponge tissue, ascidians, and other invertebrates. It is eaten by vertebrates.

Henricia sanguinolenta shows behavioral adaptations in addition to physical ones. The sea star is usually seen with sponges and coral, using the currents they make to feed upon detritus. Henricia sanguinolenta is also one of the only species of sea stars that broods its eggs. The female stays with the eggs while they hatch, and continues to stay with them as larvae. The larvae stay in a dome shape created by the female's arms until they are ready to go into the ocean on their own. Until spring time, Henricia sanguinolenta lives a solitary life. Henricia sanguinolenta also doesn't react to the fluid of Asterias forbesi, which is toxic to most other sea stars.

Henricia sanguinolenta is a stable gonochoric. The sea star usually reproduces during February and May. The sea stars migrate to warm, shallow water during the breeding season. The sea stars mate through disk fusion. The eggs are then kept under the disk of the female starfish to incubate after fertilization occurs. After incubation, the female deposits its eggs on the ground, secretes mucus onto them, and then stays on top of the eggs for three weeks while they hatch. The sea stars are polygamous. Henricia sanguinolenta has a diploid chromosome number of 36.

Although Henricia sanguinolenta can reproduce sexually, it can also reproduce asexually. It reproduces asexually through the process of regeneration. The sea star can go through regeneration if the disc is split in half, or even if a ray is cut off. The regeneration process takes weeks to months to complete.

Henricia sanguinolenta has no negative or positive impact on humans. The sea star is not harmful to humans or the economy, and only may slightly affect the tourist industry with its bright colors.