ECHINODERMATA : PAXILLOSIDA : Astropectinidae | STARFISH, SEA URCHINS, ETC. |
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Astropecten irregularis |
Description: A rigid star-shaped starfish with 5 short tapering arms. At the edge of each arm there is a double series of large square plates and a horizontal row of long pointed spines. The dorsal surface appears finely granular and is sand coloured, often with purple tips to the arms and a purple spot at the centre of the disc. 5-15cm across.
Habitat: Usually on clean sand or sandy mud, where it may be buried just below the surface. It may emerge to feed at dawn and dusk.
Distribution: Common all round the British Isles.
Similar Species: This species is unlikely to be confused with any other, apart perhaps from Luidia sarsi which is much less common and has longer arms and a less rigid star-like shape.
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
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Astropecten irregularis (Pennant, 1777). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB410 Accessed on 2023-12-11 |
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