Common Starfish Asterias rubens

Typically a five armed star-shaped creature which varies greatly in colour, though tends to be a yellowish orange. Look for them on rocky shores, in pools of water or underneath boulders.

Conservation status in Norfolk

Not threatened. However the marine environment is under pressure and by supporting campaigns for better protection of marine ecosystems we can help the starfish and other marine invertebrates.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

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David North

Information on the Common Starfish

How to recognise

Star-shaped, usually with five arms, although occasionally with four or six. The arms radiate from the central disk of the body and taper at the ends. They are normally 10 – 12.5cm in diameter but can grow to nearly 50cm. Colours vary greatly in the starfish from yellowish-brown to bright orange or red.

Where to see

The easiest place to find starfish is on rocky shores in the pools of water left when the tide recedes or underneath boulders and rocks. They can also be found on sandy beaches but in smaller numbers. Where mussel beds occur they may be present in large numbers as mussels are one of their main foods. Starfish are frequently washed up dead and may be found on strandlines mixed in with seaweeds and shells. Look for starfish at Holkham Bay, West Runton and along the shore under Hunstanton’s cliffs.

When to see

They can be seen all year round.

Did you know?

The common Starfish can push its stomach outside of its body to digest large mussels by using its powerful feet to prise apart their shells and insert its stomach into the small gap in the shell. It then brings the digested body parts back into its body for digestion in its second stomach.

Finding out more

www.glacous.org.uk

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