Common Starfish
Asterias rubens
Diameter up to 40cm

A familiar seashore inhabitant, recognised by its five radiating arms. Upper surface is orange-red and covered with pale warts; the underside, which bears rows of tube-feet, is paler. A predator of bivalve molluscs such as mussels, oysters and scallops and so only common where prey species are numerous. Also scavenges at corpses of dead marine animals, sometimes in considerable numbers.