Asterias rubens is a starfish that may reach a diameter up to 50 cm but its average size
is about 15 cm. The common starfish has five cylindrical tapering arms ending with a photosensitive ocella.
Its colour is variable: yellowish-brown, orange or violet. The lower face with the mouth is yellowish.
Its upper surface is irregular, covered with spines surrounded by groups of pedicellariae. Asterias rubens
lives on rocks or boulders feeding on mussels or oysters.
It is present from surface to 200 m deep, in the Atlantic Ocean down to Cape Verde Islands, in the English Channel, the North Sea
and the Baltic Sea.
Phylum Echinodermata, class Asteroidea, order Forcipulatida, family Asteriidae, Asterias rubens (Linnaeus, 1758).
Pedicellariae: Minute jawed elements of sea urchins and starfish used to clean body surface and as defensive means.
Photograph: © Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat. Published with author's kind permission.
Asterias rubens, Iles Glénan, South-Brittany, West of France. Depth 6 meters.
Text: Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2005-2008.
Translation: Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2007-2008.
