Description: This starfish has five long stiff tapering arms with a regular linear pattern of rounded plates on the dorsal surface. It is orange in colour, sometimes brighter, sometimes more yellow. Up to 15cm across.

Habitat: An uncommon species, may be found in rocky exposed or moderately exposed sites, mostly below 30m depth. On the west coast of Ireland it is most common on limestone seabeds.

Distribution: Apparently a northern species in the British Isles, occurring on the Atlantic coasts but rarely recorded from the south coast of England.

Similar Species: Henricia oculata can occur in a similar colour form but has a more sandpaper like, spiny texture.

Key Identification Features:

• Reticulate plated appearance to arms.
• Yellow to orange-red plain coloration.

Distribution Map from NBN: Stichastrella rosea at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Stichastrella rosea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Stichastrella rosea at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Stichastrella rosea (O.F. Müller, 1776). AphiaID: 123813.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Echinodermata; Asterozoa; Asteroidea; Ambuloasteroidea; Neoasteroidea; Forcipulatacea; Forcipulatida; Stichasteridae; Stichastrella