Sealife guideThe red starfishEchinaster sepositus
Last updated on 02/17/2025 at 07:03 PM
Taxonomy
- Common name: Red starfish
- French name: Etoile de mer rouge
- Spanish name: Estrella espinosa
- Scientific name: Echinaster sepositus (Retzius, 1783)
- Family name: Echinasteridae
- Order name: Spinulosida
- Class name: Sea stars [Asteroidea]
Description
The red starfish is a medium-sized sea star. It typically measures around 8 inches across, with a maximum size reaching up to 12 inches. The red starfish usually has five elongated, highly tapered arms, with the diameter decreasing towards the tips. However, the central disc of the red starfish is relatively small compared to its span.
The red starfish typically has five elongated, tapered arms, with the diameter decreasing toward the tips
The color of the red starfish is, as you might expect, bright red, but it also varies towards a reddish-orange hue. The countless bumps, corresponding to papulae, that cover the entire surface of the body and arms of the red starfish are a darker red and give it its speckled appearance.
Geographic range
The red starfish is primarily found in the Mediterranean sea and also along the coasts of the English Channel.
Habitat
The red starfish can be found from the surface to depths of over 328 feet. It frequents rocky bottoms and rocky crevices where it shelters during the day.
Diet
The red starfish primarily feeds on
mollusks and
crustaceans, but also consumes the remains of dead animals.
Reproduction
The red starfish exhibits sexual reproduction. The female releases her eggs into the seawater, which are then fertilized by sperm released by the male.
Like other
sea stars, the red starfish also exhibits asexual reproduction, meaning it is capable of regenerating all or part of its body.
Tips for observing
Look carefully in the nooks and crannies of rocky bottoms and coralline areas to find red starfishs quietly resting in shelter and darkness!
The color of the red starfish is, as you might expect, bright red, but it also varies towards a reddish-orange hue
Within the same family
Mosaic sea star
(Plectaster decanus)
Discover also
African red-knobbed sea star
(Protoreaster lincki)
Blue spiny starfish
(Coscinasterias tenuispina)
Common heart urchin
(Echinocardium cordatum)
Hatpin sea urchin
(Centrostephanus longispinus)
Noduled sea star
(Fromia nodosa)
Schelgel's feather star
(Comaster schlegelii)
Slate pencil urchin
(Heterocentrotus mamillatus)
Smooth starfish
(Hacelia attenuata)
The marine species in the Mediterranean Sea
Blonde skate
(Raja brachyura)
Blotched picarel
(Spicara maena)
Common octopus
(Octopus vulgaris)
Green sea turtle
(Chelonia mydas)
Long-finned pilot whale
(Globicephala melas)
Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
(Coris julis)
Neptune's lace
(Reteporella grimaldii)
Purse codium
(Codium bursa)
