[ref. ID; 2013]
Stellate-shaped body with central mass pulled out into 8 elongate projections which terminate in a fascicle of capitate tentacles. The body is covered in sand grains and other objects except for the areas immediately adjacent to the tentacles. There is no stalk nor any other point of attachment and the animal is planktonic. A distinctive single species genus. Sometimes wrongly spelt Asterophrya.
Quote; Colin R. Curds "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part I Ciliophora: Kinetofragminophora" Cambridge University Press, 1982 (ref. ID; 2013)