The Starfish (Asterias rubens), also known as the common starfish, common sea star, sea star, or sugar starfish, is the most common and familiar starfish in the north-east Atlantic. Belonging to the family Asteriidae, it has 5 arms and usually grows to between 10–30 cm across, although larger specimens (up to 52 cm across) are known. The starfish is usually orange or brown, and sometimes violet; deep-water specimens are pale. The starfish is to be found on rocky and gravelly substrates where it feeds on mollusks and other benthic invertebrates.
Advertisement