Asterias rubens

Asterias rubens is a species of starfish belonging to the family Asteriidae. It is commonly known as the European starfish or common starfish and is the most common and familiar starfish in the Atlantic Ocean.

Description

The Asterias rubens typically has five arms, although specimens with four to six arms are not uncommon. The upper surface is covered with a hard, calcified skin, which protects it from predators and helps in supporting internal organs. The color of the starfish can vary from orange, to red, to brown, and occasionally purple.

Distribution and habitat

The Asterias rubens is found throughout the North Atlantic, including the North Sea, the Irish Sea, and the Baltic Sea. It inhabits a variety of habitats, from rocky shores to sandy bottoms, and from the intertidal zone to depths of up to 200 meters.

Diet

The diet of the Asterias rubens primarily consists of bivalve mollusks, such as mussels and clams. It uses its powerful arms and suction-cupped feet to pry open the shells of its prey.

Reproduction

The Asterias rubens reproduces sexually, with separate male and female individuals. Fertilization is external, with both eggs and sperm being released into the water. The resulting larvae are planktonic and undergo several stages of development before settling on the seabed and metamorphosing into juvenile starfish.

Conservation status

The Asterias rubens is not currently considered to be at risk. However, like all marine species, it is potentially threatened by climate change, ocean acidification, and overfishing.

See also

• Starfish
• Asteriidae
• North Atlantic

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