Common Sea Star (also known as common starfish)
Phylum: Echinodermata, Class: Asteroidea, Order: Forcipulatida, Family: Asteriidae, Genus: Asterias, Species: Asterias rubens · Asteriidae (Common starfish family) · Echinoderm exoskeleton (Note: While not a traditional mollusk shell, starfish are commonly collected and grouped with beach shells; this is a whole, dried specimen with a star/radial shape)
Species
Asterias rubens
Shell Type
Echinoderm exoskeleton (Note: While not a traditional mollusk shell, starfish are commonly collected and grouped with beach shells; this is a whole, dried specimen with a star/radial shape)
Family
Asteriidae (Common starfish family)
Size
Approximately 4 to 5 inches across, which is typical for an adult specimen of this species. Adults generally range from 2 to 12 inches.
Color & Pattern
Muted golden-tan to brownish-orange base coloration with numerous lighter-colored, calcareous ossicles (bumps) covering the upper surface. The color is characteristic of a dried, preserved specimen, as living individuals can range from orange and purple to brown.
Rarity
Very Common
Habitat
Found from the intertidal zone down to depths of several hundred meters, typically inhabiting rocky shores, gravel, and muddy sand bottoms, as well as mussel and oyster beds.
Geographic Range
Northeast Atlantic Ocean, including the coasts of Europe from Norway down to the Mediterranean, and parts of the Northwest Atlantic along the North American coast.
Description
An intact, dried specimen featuring five distinct arms tapering to blunt points, covered uniformly in small, raised calcareous spines and bumps (ossicles). The central disc is modest in size, and the overall texture is rough and rigid due to the dried dermal skeleton.
Key Features
Five broad arms tapering to points, distinct rough texture from numerous small calcareous bumps across the aboral (upper) surface, and a central madreporite (visible as a small lighter-colored circular plate near the center).
Collector Value
Low commercial and collector value. Commonly found in tourist gift shops and decorative beach displays, typically valued at a few dollars.
Condition Notes
Good overall condition for a dried decorative specimen. The arms are intact with minimal breakage, and the natural texture and coloration are well-preserved. Considered a decorative or craft-grade specimen rather than a scientific museum piece.
Interesting Facts
Starfish do not have brains or blood; instead, they use a water vascular system to pump seawater through their bodies to move, feed, and breathe. They are also famous for their ability to regenerate lost arms.
Ecological Role
A major carnivorous predator in coastal marine ecosystems, feeding heavily on bivalves like mussels and clams, thereby keeping populations in check and shaping benthic community structures.
Similar Species
Purple Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus) and Spiny Starfish (Marthasterias glacialis), which can be distinguished by geographical range, coloration, and the prominence and arrangement of their dorsal spines.
Beach Finding Tips
Often washed ashore after heavy storms or rough seas, particularly near rocky areas or jetties at low tide.