Another characteristic they share with their fellow Echinodermata is their internal mesodermal skeleton, which is made up of ossicles (Fig.

In their research article, Fau and Villier (2018),[6] describe many of the characteristics pertaining to Z. fulgens that make it unique.

They are all believed to process chemoreception and mechanoreception through their tube feet sensors which is also how they move along the sea floor[7] (p. 1082).

Ecology - Habitat Z. fulgens inhabit the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian ocean at bathyal to abyssal levels (200 to 6000 meters) which makes them deep-sea starfish[4] (p. 177).

They have been found in large densities at single stations which may be an indication of a more important ecological function that is presently unknown for this megafauna[4] (p. 177).

- Locomotion The Z. fulgens like most starfish use their ventrally located disc-ending tube feet to move around the sea floor.

While their preferred prey is unknown their stomach content also included trace amounts of benthic echinoderms, crustaceans, and foraminiferans.

- Speciation Upon genetic research into Zoroaster fulgens morphology, three distinct morphotypes are found with differing depth ranges in the Atlantic ocean.

[15] The robust-armed: 925-1750m The slender-armed: 1,300-2,200m The long-armed: below 3,300m The data analysis done by Howell et al. (2004),[15] suggests that these three morphotypes are reproductively isolated.

The slender and long arm being more closely related to one another and possibly in the process of speciation, and the robust-armed is already a distinctly different species.

The speciation is theorized to be due to physical barriers such as depth and continental slope as well as historical events including past climate changes.

The reason for this basal placement is their similar morphology to the Paleozoic asteroida[4] and their single marginal plates which link them to Jurassic asteroids[16] (p. 199; p. 656).