BIOTIC Species Information for Astropecten irregularis
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| Researched by | Morvan Barnes & Sean Lindsley-Leake | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Astropecten irregularis | Common name | A starfish | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZB25 | Recent Synonyms | Crenaster d'Orbigny, 1850 | ||||||||||||
| Phylum | Echinodermata | Subphylum | Asterozoa | ||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Asteroidea | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Paxillosida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Astropectinidae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Astropecten | Species | irregularis | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Picton, 1993, Fish & Fish, 1996, Mortensen, 1927, Howson & Picton, 1997, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Stellate Radial |
Feeding method | Predator Scavenger |
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| Mobility/Movement | Crawler Crawler |
Environmental position | Epibenthic |
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| Typical food types | Large benthic invertebrates including molluscs, particularly the clam Spisula subtruncata, polychaetes, crustaceans, and other echinoderms and carrion. | Habit | Free living | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | not relevant | Growth Rate | 17 cm/year at most | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | 1km-10km | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Gregarious | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | Growth rate There is considerable irregularity in the growth rate of starfish, especially during their first year. Growth rates of Astropecten irregularis are also highly seasonal and dependent on food availability, reaching 17 cm/year. Maximum growth occurs between March and April and between August and November. |
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| Biology References | Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Picton, 1993, Fish & Fish, 1996, Mortensen, 1927, Freeman et al, 2001, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Found throughout British and Irish coastal waters. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Found in north-west European waters, predominantly in the British Isles and Ireland but also north-east France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Norway. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Temperate. | Depth range | 10 to 1000 m. | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | Seasonal (feeding) | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Gravelley sand Muddy sand Fine clean sand Coarse clean sand |
Physiographic preferences | Strait / sound Offshore seabed Open coast |
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| Biological zone | Bathybenthic (Bathyal) Circalittoral Offshore Lower Circalittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Infralittoral |
Wave exposure | Field unresearched |
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| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Field unresearched |
Salinity | Full (30-40 psu) |
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| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Picton, 1993, Fish & Fish, 1996, Mortensen, 1927, NBN, 2002, Picton & Costello, 1998, JNCC, 1999, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Gonochoristic |
Developmental mechanism | Lecithotrophic Planktotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | May to June | Reproductive Location | Water column | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 3-5 years | Age at reproductive maturity | 2-3 years | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | 100-200 µm | Fertilization type | External | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | There is a great deal of variation within the genus for larval duration and egg size. Larger egg size corresponds with shorter larval period. There is also variation in the developmental mechanism with Grant & Tyler (1986) describing planktotrophic binnaria larvae for Astropecten irregularis and McEdward & Janies (1993) describing lecithotrophic larvae. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | McEdward & Janies, 1993, Freeman et al, 2001, McEdward & Morgan, 2001, Newth, 1925, Henry et al, 1991, Obrebski, 1979, Grant & Tyler, 1986, Tillin et al., 2006, | ||||||||||||||
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