Seven armed starfish by Paul Naylor
Seven armed starfish
Scientific name: Luidia ciliaris
Brittle stars, sea urchins and other starfish will want to stay out of the way of this speedy carnivorous starfish!
Species information
Category
Statistics
Typically up to 40cm but can reach 60cm acrossConservation status
Common
When to see
April to OctoberAbout
The seven armed starfish likes to eat other starfish, brittle stars and urchins. Their seven arms allow them to move surprisingly quickly across the sea floor.How to identify
Orange all over the body and seven arms. Arms are long, soft and only get thinner towards the tips. Obvious white spines run around the edge of each arm.Distribution
Found around the UK except for South East EnglandHabitats
Did you know?
An adult seven armed starfish can produce over 200 million eggs in a year. Only a tiny fraction will likely survive.How people can help
Always follow the Seashore Code when rockpooling, taking care where you walk and making sure you put animals and rocks back gently. Report any sightings to your local Wildlife Trust
Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
As a charity we rely on memberships
Memberships help us campaign for better protection and management of our seas.
Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Seas in crisis
Plastic-strewn beaches, fisheries on the verge of collapse and the ever growing effects of global climate change.
