Species · GBIF taxon 7765831
Common Starfish
Asterias rubensAlso known as Common Sea Star, Sugar Starfish
Common starfish are highly adaptable marine predators that dominate rocky shores and gravelly seabed habitats across the north-east Atlantic. They use hundreds of tiny tube feet tipped with suction cups to pry open the shells of mussels and oysters before everting their own stomachs to digest the prey alive. These resilient echinoderms can also regenerate lost arms, a vital defense against predators like crabs and gulls.
MarineInvertebrateIntertidal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Blue Mussels
- Oysters
- Barnacles
Predators
- Gulls
- Crabs
- Common Eider
ThreatsCoastal pollution, ocean acidification, and marine heatwaves
HabitatsRocky shores, gravelly seabeds, tide pools, and sandy substrates
Life span7 to 10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsteriidae
- SpeciesAsterias rubens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Handle with care: If lifting a starfish in a tide pool, do so gently to avoid tearing its delicate tube feet.
- Keep submerged: Limit their time out of water to a few seconds, as they rely on water to breathe.
- Look for the madreporite: Spot the small, bright orange or yellow spot on the central disc used to filter water.
Prey (c) Connie Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Connie Taylor · cc-by
Image unavailableCompetitor 
Close Relative (c) ecovore, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-byClose Relative
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