Description: A rigid star-shaped starfish with 5 short tapering arms. At the edge of each arm there is a double series of large square plates and a horizontal row of long pointed spines. The dorsal surface appears finely granular and is sand coloured, often with purple tips to the arms and a purple spot at the centre of the disc. 5-15cm across.

Habitat: Usually on clean sand or sandy mud, where it may be buried just below the surface. It may emerge to feed at dawn and dusk.

Distribution: Common all round the British Isles.

Similar Species: This species is unlikely to be confused with any other, apart perhaps from Luidia sarsi which is much less common and has longer arms and a less rigid star-like shape.

Key Identification Features:

• Regular stiff star shape.
• Five tapering triangular arms with large marginal plates.
• Conspicuous spines along edges of arms.

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

iNaturalist: Astropecten irregularis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Astropecten irregularis at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Astropecten irregularis (Pennant, 1777). AphiaID: 123867.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Echinodermata; Asterozoa; Asteroidea; Ambuloasteroidea; Neoasteroidea; Valvatacea; Paxillosida; Astropectinidae; Astropecten