Astropecten irregularis (Pennant, 1777)

Description: A rigid star-shaped starfish with 5 short tapering arms. At the edge of each arm there is a double series of large square plates and a horizontal row of long pointed spines. The dorsal surface appears finely granular and is sand coloured, often with purple tips to the arms and a purple spot at the centre of the disc. 5-15cm across.

Habitat: Usually on clean sand or sandy mud, where it may be buried just below the surface. It may emerge to feed at dawn and dusk.

Distribution: Common all round the British Isles.

Similar Species: This species is unlikely to be confused with any other, apart perhaps from Luidia sarsi which is much less common and has longer arms and a less rigid star-like shape.

Key Identification Features:

• Regular stiff star shape.
• Five tapering triangular arms with large marginal plates.
• Conspicuous spines along edges of arms.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR data - Grid map National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.