Bloody Henry starfish (Henricia oculata)
Henricia oculata.
Photographer: Keith Hiscock Copyright: Dr Keith Hiscock
Henricia oculata at Strome Narrows, Loch Carron in Scotland.
Photographer: Keith Hiscock Copyright: Dr Keith Hiscock
Henricia oculata in Doune.
Photographer: Fiona Crouch Copyright: Fiona Crouch
Henricia oculata on Maerl beds in the Creag Gobhainn area of Loch Fyne at 15m depth.
Photographer: Jason Hall-Spencer Copyright: Prof. Jason Hall-Spencer
Henricia oculata, the Bloody Henry starfish.
Photographer: Paul Newland Copyright: Paul Newland
A bloody henry starfish
Photographer: Gordon Lang Copyright: Gordon Lang
Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
| Researched by | Angus Jackson | Refereed by | Dr Andrew C. Campbell |
| Authority | (Pennant, 1777) | ||
| Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
Summary
Description
A stiff rigid starfish with a sandpapery texture to the dorsal surface. This species comes in a wide variety of colour forms, reds, browns, purples and yellows. Sometimes the disc and inner portions of the arms is much darker than the outer part of the arms, as though the animal has been splashed with paint. The dorsal spinelets are more opaque and irregular than in Henricia sanguinolenta.
Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland
All round Ireland except perhaps for the east coast. South-east England round to the west coast northwards to northern Scotland.Global distribution
South, West and North coasts of Britain and Ireland. West Channel and Brittany.Habitat
Found on a variety of substrata on open coasts.Depth range
0 - 100Identifying features
- Five tapering stiff arms.
- Sandpaper like texture.
- Dorsal spines blunt and covered with skin.
Additional information
Sometimes confused with Henricia sanguinolenta.
Listed by
- none -
Biology review
Taxonomy
| Phylum | Echinodermata | Starfish, brittlestars, sea urchins & sea cucumbers |
| Class | Asteroidea | Starfish |
| Order | Spinulosida | |
| Family | Echinasteridae | |
| Genus | Henricia | |
| Authority | (Pennant, 1777) | |
| Recent Synonyms | ||
Biology
| Typical abundance | Data deficient | ||
| Male size range | <200mm | ||
| Male size at maturity | >18mm | ||
| Female size range | >18mm | ||
| Female size at maturity | |||
| Growth form | Stellate | ||
| Growth rate | 0.3 - 1% body wt/day | ||
| Body flexibility | |||
| Mobility | |||
| Characteristic feeding method | Not relevant, Passive suspension feeder | ||
| Diet/food source | |||
| Typically feeds on | Suspended matter, detritus layer, sponges, hydroids, ectoprocts | ||
| Sociability | |||
| Environmental position | Epifaunal | ||
| Dependency | Independent. | ||
| Supports | Host Asterocheres lillyeborgi | ||
| Is the species harmful? | No | ||
Biology information
Size at maturity refers to radius. Adults typically around 100 mm.
Stomach eversion is an important supplement to suspension feeding.
The parasitic cyclopoid copepod Asterocheres lillyeborgi has more than a 90% occurrence
Habitat preferences
| Physiographic preferences | Open coast |
| Biological zone preferences | Lower circalittoral, Lower infralittoral, Sublittoral fringe, Upper circalittoral, Upper infralittoral |
| Substratum / habitat preferences | Bedrock, Cobbles, Gravel / shingle, Large to very large boulders, Pebbles, Small boulders |
| Tidal strength preferences | |
| Wave exposure preferences | Exposed, Moderately exposed, Very exposed |
| Salinity preferences | Full (30-40 psu) |
| Depth range | 0 - 100 |
| Other preferences | No text entered |
| Migration Pattern | Non-migratory / resident |
Habitat Information
Henricia oculata is occasionally found exposed to the air at low spring tides (Campbell pers comm.).Life history
Adult characteristics
| Reproductive type | Gonochoristic (dioecious) | |
| Reproductive frequency | Annual protracted | |
| Fecundity (number of eggs) | 100-1,000 | |
| Generation time | Insufficient information | |
| Age at maturity | Not relevant | |
| Season | March - April | |
| Life span | 2-5 years |
Larval characteristics
| Larval/propagule type | - |
| Larval/juvenile development | Direct development |
| Duration of larval stage | No information |
| Larval dispersal potential | Greater than 10 km |
| Larval settlement period | Insufficient information |
Life history information
Females have ripe eggs between March and April, males have mature sperm throughout the year.Maturity dependent on size rather than age.
Sensitivity review
The MarLIN sensitivity assessment approach used below has been superseded by the MarESA (Marine Evidence-based Sensitivity Assessment) approach (see menu). The MarLIN approach was used for assessments from 1999-2010. The MarESA approach reflects the recent conservation imperatives and terminology and is used for sensitivity assessments from 2014 onwards.
Physical pressures
| Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
| High | High | Moderate | Low | |
| The species is an epifaunal crawler that occupies a broad range of substrata. Loss of the substratum would result in death. Although the adults are mobile they probably don't move long distances so adult immigration is unlikely to play a large role in recovery. The species can live for up to five years and matures at quite small sizes. Up to 500 eggs are broadcast spawned into the water column so larval dispersal potential is considerable. Reproduction occurs over a protracted period so is less likely to be affected by adverse environmental conditions. | ||||
| Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
| The species is able to move by slow crawling. It does not typically live on sediment so smothering by sediment may cause locomotion problems. Crawling back up through the sediment may not be possible. Henricia oculata frequently suspension feeds so changing the substratum for one month would have little effect on the ability to feed. Although the adults are mobile they probably don't move long distances so adult immigration is unlikely to play a large role in recovery. The species can live for up to five years and matures at quite small sizes. Up to 500 eggs are broadcast spawned into the water column so larval dispersal potential is considerable. Reproduction occurs over a protracted period so is less likely to be affected by adverse environmental conditions. | ||||
| Low | Very high | Very Low | Low | |
| Henricia oculata frequently suspension feeds, increased siltation may clog or interfere with this mechanism requiring extra energy expenditure to clear the feeding apparatus. Recovery occurs once feeding is no longer impaired, energy expenditure is returned to normal and condition is restored. | ||||
| No information | ||||
| Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
| Henricia oculata is generally only found subtidally although is occasionally exposed at low spring tides. If it was exposed to the air it would probably not be able to move fast enough to return to the water rapidly. Although the adults are mobile they probably don't move long distances so adult immigration is unlikely to play a large role in recovery. The species can live for up to five years and matures at quite small sizes. Up to 500 eggs are broadcast spawned into the water column so larval dispersal potential is considerable. Reproduction occurs over a protracted period so is less likely to be affected by adverse environmental conditions. | ||||
| Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Low | |
| Henricia oculata is only found subtidally and if the emergence regime changed, it probably has sufficient mobility to move to a location that is not subject to emergence. | ||||
| No information | ||||
| Low | Very high | Very Low | Low | |
| The species has sufficient mobility to move out of the area of altered water flow. An altered water flow rate may interfere with suspension feeding ability. The species does not rely entirely on passive suspension feeding but is also an active omnivore. Recovery occurs once feeding is no longer impaired and condition is restored. | ||||
| No information | ||||
| High | High | Moderate | Low | |
| The species has quite a restricted global distribution. Long term temperature changes will cause the population to die (or to move location). Rapid, acute temperature increase will probably also cause death. A short term decrease in temperature will probably just cause inactivity. Although the adults are mobile they probably don't move long distances so adult immigration is unlikely to play a large role in recovery. The species can live for up to five years and matures at quite small sizes. Up to 500 eggs are broadcast spawned into the water column so larval dispersal potential is considerable. Reproduction occurs over a protracted period so is less likely to be affected by adverse environmental conditions. | ||||
| No information | ||||
| Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Low | |
| Behaviour is not dependent on ambient light. The species is found down to 100 metres where light availability is very limited. | ||||
| No information | ||||
| Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
| Wave action in extremely exposed areas may be too great for the species to maintain position on substrata. A change of two ranks means that the species is likely to be subject to lower wave exposure conditions than its preferred range. Although the adults are mobile they probably don't move long distances so adult immigration is unlikely to play a large role in recovery. The species can live for up to five years and matures at quite small sizes. Up to 500 eggs are broadcast spawned into the water column so larval dispersal potential is considerable. Reproduction occurs over a protracted period so is less likely to be affected by adverse environmental conditions. | ||||
| No information | ||||
| Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Low | |
| The species is unlikely to respond to noise vibrations | ||||
| Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Low | |
| Starfish have photoreceptors but cannot resolve moving objects so will not respond to visual disturbance. | ||||
| Low | Very high | Very Low | Low | |
| Physical disturbance or impact by due to a scallop dredge is likely to cause some physical damage to Henricia oculata but starfish have well documented regenerative abilities (see Asterias rubens). | ||||
| Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Low | |
| The species is mobile and displacement would not affect the species. | ||||
Chemical pressures
| Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
| No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
| Insufficient information | ||||
| No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
| Insufficient information | ||||
| No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
| Insufficient information | ||||
| No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
| Insufficient information | ||||
| No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
| Insufficient information | ||||
| Intermediate | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
| Species lives only in fully saline habitats. A reduction of one salinity rank would result in the species being exposed to conditions outside its preferred range. Although the adults are mobile they probably don't move long distances so adult immigration is unlikely to play a large role in recovery. The species can live for up to five years and matures at quite small sizes. Up to 500 eggs are broadcast spawned into the water column so larval dispersal potential is considerable. Reproduction occurs over a protracted period so is less likely to be affected by adverse environmental conditions. | ||||
| No information | ||||
| Intermediate | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
| Cole et al. (1999) suggest possible effects on marine species below 4 mg/l and probable effects below 2mg/l. There is no information about Henricia oculata tolerance to changes in oxygenation.. | ||||
Biological pressures
| Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
| No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
| Insufficient information | ||||
| No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
| Insufficient information | ||||
| Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Low | |
| It is very unlikely that this species would be extracted. | ||||
| Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Low | |
| The species has no known obligate relationships. | ||||
Additional information
Importance review
Policy/legislation
- no data -
Status
| National (GB) importance | - | Global red list (IUCN) category | - |
Non-native
| Native | - | ||
| Origin | - | Date Arrived | - |
Importance information
-none-Bibliography
Brun, E., 1976. Ecology and taxonomic position of Henricia oculata Pennant. Thalassia Jugoslavica 12, 51-64.
Campbell, A., 1994. Seashores and shallow seas of Britain and Europe. London: Hamlyn.
Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]
Nichols, D., 1969. Echinoderms (4th ed.). London: Hutchinson & Co.
Datasets
Centre for Environmental Data and Recording, 2018. Ulster Museum Marine Surveys of Northern Ireland Coastal Waters. Occurrence dataset https://www.nmni.com/CEDaR/CEDaR-Centre-for-Environmental-Data-and-Recording.aspx accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-25.
Fenwick, 2018. Aphotomarine. Occurrence dataset http://www.aphotomarine.com/index.html Accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-01
Fife Nature Records Centre, 2018. St Andrews BioBlitz 2014. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/erweal accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.
Fife Nature Records Centre, 2018. St Andrews BioBlitz 2015. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/xtrbvy accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.
Fife Nature Records Centre, 2018. St Andrews BioBlitz 2016. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/146yiz accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.
Isle of Wight Local Records Centre, 2017. IOW Natural History & Archaeological Society Marine Invertebrate Records 1853- 2011. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/d9amhg accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.
Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2017. Isle of Man wildlife records from 01/01/2000 to 13/02/2017. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/mopwow accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.
Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2018. Isle of Man historical wildlife records 1990 to 1994. Occurrence dataset:https://doi.org/10.15468/aru16v accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.
NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.
OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), 2023. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2023-03-24
Outer Hebrides Biological Recording, 2018. Invertebrates (except insects), Outer Hebrides. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/hpavud accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.
South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, 2018. SEWBReC Marine and other Aquatic Invertebrates (South East Wales). Occurrence dataset:https://doi.org/10.15468/zxy1n6 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, 2018. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Shoresearch. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/1nw3ch accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02.
Citation
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 24/04/2008
