Biodiversity & Conservation

A sand star - Astropecten irregularis

Astropecten irregularis

Image Keith Hiscock - Astropecten irregularis. Image width ca 20 cm.
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Distribution map

Astropecten irregularis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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Astropecten irregularis is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Echinodermata Starfish, brittlestars, sea urchins & sea cucumbers
Class Stelleroidea Starfish, sea stars, cushion stars and brittlestars
Authority (Pennant, 1777)
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Recorded from the Shetland Islands, the Orkneys, the west coasts of England and Scotland and around the coast of Ireland. It has also been recorded near Aberdeen, St Andrews Bay and along the Northumberland coastline.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Found partly buried on clean sand or sandy mud. Occurs in the sublittoral to depths of about 1000 m. Specimens can often be found washed ashore after storms event.
Text page icon Description Astropecten irregularis has a stiff flattened body. It can grow up to 20 cm in diameter. The dorsal surface appears finely granular. The under surface of this starfish is pale, however the upper surface can appear sandy, yellow orange, pink or brown. It often has purple tips at the end of each arm and a purple spot at the centre of the disc. At the edge of each arm there is a double series of large marginal plates. The upper marginal plates have a larger conical spine. It has pointed tube feet without suckers.
Identifying features
  • Stiff star shape.
  • Five rather short tapering triangular arms meeting at distinct angles.
  • Horizontal row of long pointed spines along edges of arms with large marginal plates.
Additional information icon Additional information No similar species occur in shallow water. Astropecten irregularis usually lies part buried in the sediment and maintains contact with the surface through the tips of the arms.

This review can be cited as follows:

Marisa Sabatini 2008. Astropecten irregularis. A sand star. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22/05/2012]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2669>