Biodiversity & Conservation

Common sun star - Crossaster papposus

Crossaster papposus

Image Sue Scott - Crossaster papposus, sunstar . Image width ca 35 cm.
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Distribution map

Crossaster papposus 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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Crossaster papposus 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 Linnaeus, 1767
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland All British and Irish coasts.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Found on sand, stones, mussel and oyster beds from the infralittoral fringe to 50 m.
Text page icon Description A very distinctive sun star that grows up to 34 cm in diameter. The colour varies but is usually red, brown-red with white markings above, yellow-white below, often with beautiful patterns. It has 10-12 arms (rarely 8-16) and the whole surface of the animal is covered with small but distinct spines.
Identifying features
  • Disc large, red, 10-12 tapering arms.
  • Marginal paxillae large, arranged in a single row.
  • Three to five furrow spines, adambulacral plates with series of 5-9 larger spines.
  • No pedicellariae.
Additional information icon Additional information No text entered

This review can be cited as follows:

Emily Wilson 2008. Crossaster papposus. Common sun star. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 19/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3093>