Pteraster militaris - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Pteraster militaris (O F Müller, 1776)

Pteraster militaris

Description: Small starfish with short arms. The spines at the edges of the arms are webbed together by a membrane. Colour reported to vary from white through yellow to red. Up to 15cm in diameter.

Distribution: Northern North Sea, in more than 100m. Possible record from 36m, Ross-shire. Widespread in the Arctic to southern Norway.

Similar Species: Pteraster pulvillus is similar but has shorter arms and 8-15 branches on the spines supporting the paxillae.

Key Identification Features:

Spines at edge of arm webbed by a membrane.
Paxillae at surface supported by spines with 2-4 branches.

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). Pteraster militaris (O F Müller, 1776). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB1250 Accessed on 2023-12-11

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