Blue sea star
Linckia laevigata
Mediterranean Red Sea Star
Echinaster sepositus
About
The Mediterranean red sea star is one of the easiest starfish to spot on a Mediterranean dive, its bright orange-red arms standing out against rock and seagrass. It grows to about 20 cm across, with some reaching 30 cm.
Also known as: red starfish, red sea star, Mediterranean red starfish, Echinaster sepositus, Echinaster (Echinaster) sepositus
- Length
- 20 cm · max 30 cm
- Depth
- 5–40 m
How to tell it apart
It can be confused with Henricia starfish, which look similar in shape and colour. Feel is the giveaway: this species has a smooth, soapy surface, while Henricia feels rougher.
Appearance
This starfish has five slender arms around a small central disc, coloured bright orange-red all over. The surface has a soapy texture, not the rough or bumpy feel of similar starfish. Small evenly spaced pits cover the surface, and the animal can push out deep red gills through them.
Habitat
It lives on rocky, sandy and muddy bottoms, and in seagrass meadows, across the Mediterranean and the East Atlantic north of the equator. Divers find it from very shallow water down to 250 m, most often between 5 and 40 m.
Is it dangerous?
Harmless - no spines, no venom. This is the starfish that needs protecting from the diver, not the other way round.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
