Crossaster papposus (Linnaeus, 1767)

Crossaster papposus

Description: A starfish with many arms, usually 13 but occasionally from 8-14. Colour is variable from dirty brown through dirty purple to a beautiful red form with concentric rings of white. The texture is very spiny with large groups of bristly spines over the dorsal surface. Typically 25cm up to 35cm diameter.

Habitat: Found in sheltered sites with moderate tidal streams and semi-exposed rocky or bouldery sites. Frequent in brittle-star beds.

Distribution: Common and widespread all round the British Isles but rare on the south coast.

Similar Species: The only other sunstar to be found in shallow water is Solaster endeca.

Key Identification Features:

• 13 arms (8-14).
• Clusters of sharp spines all over body.

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). Crossaster papposus (Linnaeus, 1767). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB1490 Accessed on 2024-09-19

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