Sea Star - Pteraster militaris

Characteristics:

Typical for the Pterasteridae family members are the spined papillae on the dorsal side. A soft skin is covering the spines, giving the surface of these sea stars a untidy, bumpy appearance. P. militaris is larger than the similar P. pulvillus, the diameter may reach 85 mm. There are usually four spines on each papillae. The latter is usually found deeper than 100 metres. The color of P. militaris is pale yellow or orange. It has five, sometimes red-tipped, arms. A third species, P. obscurus has 6-8 arms.

Habitat:

It seems most frequent on rocky substrate, deeper than 100 metres.

Distribution:

This is a circumpolar species, found in the Arctic as well as the northern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, as far south as the North Sea and New Foundland.