Asterias rubens

Common Starfish-"Asterias rubens"

Habitat The common starfish is found in a wide variety of habitats including sandy shores, rocky shores, and along mussel beds.

Range This species has a wide range in the northeast Atlantic spanning from coastal states in the United States to Ireland and Britain.

Description The common starfish is typically observed with five arms and ranges in color from yellowish to red. The underside of the starfish is lined with tube feet, while the top is covered with small spines along each arm, stemming from the center.

Ecological Notes Sea stars, in general, have been classified as a keystone species, meaning they are crucial to the current balance of the ecosystem. This is because they control mussel populations by preying on them. Without this predation pressure, mussel populations would grow out of control, drastically altering or destroying the current ecosystem and food web. Some threats to starfish populations include pollution, desiccation, and consumption by people.

Personal Information The common starfish, and sea stars in general, are some of the most interesting marine organisms. For one, sea stars have the ability to regenerate limbs that were lost. They can also asexually reproduce from their lost arms if a portion of the central disk is still attached.

Journal Articles For more information check out http://www.starfishfacts.org/other_cool_starfish_facts.html https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113611001140 http://www.arkive.org/common-starfish/asterias-rubens/

Contributed by Ally Lombardo-2018

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