Asterias rubens, the common starfish, is the most common and familiar starfish of the northeast Atlantic, in the family Asteriidae. It normally has five arms, broad at the base and tapering to a point, typically measuring 10 to 30 centimeters across though specimens up to 52 centimeters have been recorded, and is usually orange or brick red on its upper surface and paler underneath, though purple or pale brown individuals occur. It lives on rocky and gravelly seabeds from Norway and Sweden through the North Sea, around the coasts of Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal, and south along the African coast to Senegal, using rows of small tube feet for locomotion and feeding, tolerating brackish water, and preying on mollusks and other benthic invertebrates.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Common Starfish
In Biome
Source SeaLifeBase: Asterias rubens summary
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Common starfish
Lead section
The common starfish is found on rocky and gravelly substrates where it feeds on mollusks and other benthic invertebrates.
In Group: Sea Stars (Asteroidea), Lead
The common starfish, common sea star or sugar starfish (Asterias rubens) is the most common and familiar starfish in the north-east Atlantic.
View the Source2. GBIF Species API
3. SeaLifeBase: Asterias rubens summary
SeaLifeBaseHuman uses
Fisheries: commercial
In Biome: Intertidal Zone, Biology
Intertidal to subtidal (Ref. 80965 ).
View the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Asterias rubens
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "GNR"
View the Source 5. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Asterias rubens (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITESQuote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
View the Source 6. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Asterias rubens
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 7765831, category fieldQuote, GBIF taxon key 7765831, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Wikidata: Common Starfish
Child Taxon Of: Asteroidea, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source 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.