Spiny Starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
Habitat: Low shore, sandy and stony sea floor
Depth: 5-200m
Food: Starfish, sea urchins, molluscs and crustaceans
Size: Up to 70cm across
Lifespan: Unkown
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
This large starfish gets its name from the rows of spines running down each arm. It is a hungry predator of molluscs, sea urchins, other starfish, dead fish and just about anything that crosses its path on the sea bed. It moves relatively quickly on its tube feet when hunting down prey which it detects by smell. Like other starfish if it loses an arm, it can grow another one to replace it!