Hippasteria phrygiana (Parelius, 1768)

Description: A solid, well-plated cushion-like starfish with short arms and a large body. The upper surface is red in colour and covered with rounded knob-like spines. Below there are many macroscopic bivalved pedicellariae. Up to 20cm across

Habitat: Little known, apparently lives on flat sediment bottoms, feeding on other Echinoderms and on bivalves.

Distribution: Rather rare in the British Isles, found in Scotland and the Shetlands and in the North Sea.

Similar Species: Porania pulvillus is similar in shape but not in texture.

Key Identification Features:

• Short arms and large body.
• Hard solid texture.
• Red colour with white tubercles.

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

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