Porania pulvillus - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Porania pulvillus (O F Müller, 1776)

Porania pulvillus

Description: A smooth, fleshy red or orange starfish with white or transparent soft papulae projecting from the back in life. The arms are very short and the disc large. There are white streaks and lines across the back and the surface is smooth and greasy to touch. Up to 12cm. across.

Habitat: Often found on moderately exposed rocks, sometimes apparently eating dead-mens fingers (Alcyonium digitatum). Also in more sheltered places, on wrecks and amongst boulders.

Distribution: Southern, western and northern coasts of the British Isles, apparently commoner in the north.

Similar Species: Asterina gibbosa is similar in shape but much smaller and green in colour.

Key Identification Features:

Cushion like body with short arms.
Smooth greasy skin.
Red or orange coloration.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database

Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Porania pulvillus (O F Müller, 1776). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB1010 Accessed on 2024-09-19

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