Home›Species›Taxonomy›AsteroideaTaxaAsteroideaClassReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedThe sea stars: echinoderms with a central disc and, typically, five (though sometimes many more) radiating arms, each lined on its underside with hundreds of tiny tube feet used for locomotion and prying open the shells of bivalve prey. Asteroidea are found on the sea floor at every ocean depth.FactsAsteroideaConnectionsSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsDisputedMember Species/Taxa CountScholarly debate1900 2Approximate described-species (or, for a genus, described-taxon) count; continually revised as species are newly described, reclassified or synonymized.Taxonomic RankWell-attestedClass 2Scientific NameWell-attestedAsteroidea 2ClassificationLiving or ExtinctWell-attestedYes 1AsteroideaFilter Results7 entriesCommon GroupAllSea Stars (Asteroidea) (7)HabitatAllCoral Reef (2)Intertidal Zone (3)Marine (2)Conservation StatusAllCritically Endangered (1)Not Evaluated (5)EcosystemAllCoral Reef Systems (2)Great Barrier Reef (1)Kelp Forests (1)Raja Ampat (1)Everyday GroupAllSea Stars (Asteroidea) (7)DietAllCarnivore (7)System (Realm)AllMarine (7)Relationship to PeopleAllAgricultural or Structural Pest (1)Ecotourism and Research (1)Hunted or Fished (2)Kept as Pets (1)Venomous or Dangerous to Humans (1)Living or ExtinctAllYes (2)Where It LivesAllAustralia (1)Belgium (2)Canada (3)Central America (1)Denmark (2)France (2)Ireland (2)Kenya (1)Mauritius (1)Mexico (2)Morocco (2)Netherlands (2)Norway (4)Palau (2)Panama (1)Papua New Guinea (1)Portugal (2)Seychelles (1)Spain (1)Sweden (2)Turkey (2)United Kingdom (2)United States (4)West Africa (2)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 7Asterias RubensAsteroideaChocolate Chip Sea StarAsteroideaCommon StarfishAsteroideaCrown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci)AsteroideaCushion StarAsteroideaOchre Sea StarAsteroideaSunflower Sea StarAsteroideaConnectionsChild Taxon OfEchinodermata, Taxa Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeParent Taxon OfAsterias Rubens, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Common StarfishChocolate Chip Sea Star, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Chocolate Chip Sea StarCommon Starfish, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Common StarfishCrown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci), Species Well-attested Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acanthaster planciCushion Star, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Cushion StarOchre Sea Star, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Ochre Sea StarSunflower Sea Star, Species Well-attested Source Sunflower Sea Star (Wikidata)tier 2Sources1. World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)tier 2World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)View the Source2. Catalogue of LifeSpecies 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeView the SourceWikidata: AsteroideaWikidata Q25349, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceWikidata: Common StarfishParent Taxon Of: Common Starfish, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainParent Taxon Of: Asterias Rubens, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Ochre Sea StarParent Taxon Of: Ochre Sea Star, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Chocolate Chip Sea StarParent Taxon Of: Chocolate Chip Sea Star, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceSunflower Sea Star (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Sunflower Sea Star, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Cushion StarParent Taxon Of: Cushion Star, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceStarfish (Wikipedia)In Group: Echinoderm Classes, LeadQuote, In Group: Echinoderm Classes, LeadStarfish or sea stars are a class of echinoderms generally shaped like a star polygon.View the SourceGBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acanthaster planciGBIF Backbone TaxonomyParent Taxon Of: Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci), Taxon recordQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci), Taxon record"class": "Asteroidea"View the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.