Marthasterias glacialis - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Marthasterias glacialis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Marthasterias glacialis

Description: This starfish is large and has five very spiny arms. Each arm bears three longitudinal rows of spike-like spines surrounded by large cushions of pedicellariae. Smaller spines may be scattered between these rows. The spines are white and usually purple-tipped and the animal varies in colour from dirty brown to greenish-grey with purple tips to the arms. Up to 35cm or more in diameter.

Habitat: This species may be found in a very wide range of habitats from sheltered muddy sites to fully exposed rockfaces. Specimens from sheltered sites are usually larger than those from exposed sites.

Distribution: Apparently confined to the southwest and west coasts of the British Isles, also north to Scandinavia.

Similar Species: Small individuals might be mistaken for Leptasterias muelleri.

Key Identification Features:

Large spines forming three main rows along each arm.
Spines surrounded by a wreath of pedicellariae.
Spines usually white with purple tips.

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). Marthasterias glacialis (Linnaeus, 1758). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB2000 Accessed on 2024-09-19

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