ECHINODERMATA : COMATULIDA : Antedonidae | STARFISH, SEA URCHINS, ETC. |
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Antedon bifida |
Description: This feather star has ten thin pinnate arms with side-branches like a feather. There are about 25 short cirri arising around the central plate on the underside of the disc which curl under to anchor the animal to the substratum. The cirri are banded and the arms usually pink or red with white pinnules. The arm segments or brachials are thickened at their outer edges giving a ridged lower profile to the arm. Arms typically 5cm in length.
Habitat: Found in a variety of habitats both sheltered and moderately exposed, attached to rocks, algae, and sedentary animals. Antedon bifida often occurs in large numbers and may dominate areas of rock in suitable habitats.
Distribution: Found on western and north-eastern coasts of the British Isles.
Similar Species: Antedon petasus is very similar but larger than this species.
Key Identification Features:
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
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Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Antedon bifida (Pennant, 1777). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB110 Accessed on 2025-02-10 |
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