Habitat 
Depth 
Group 
Role 
Average sizeWHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The red starfish (Echinaster sepositus) has long, bright red to orange arms. They are rounded, almost cylindrical, with small, irregular bumps on top.
Five arms make up the usual pattern, with some individual variation. The scattered arrangement of raised features complements colour when comparing it with other red starfish.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
It lives on rocky seabeds, in detrital areas and in Posidonia seagrass meadows. It occurs from shallow water down to several tens of metres, most often in areas rich in shelters and benthic fauna.
WHAT DOES IT EAT?
The red starfish feeds in contact with the seabed. It takes small organisms and organic particles, which tiny moving cilia can carry towards its mouth on the underside of the body. It can also extend part of its stomach outside its body to begin digesting food. Sponges are among its reported foods, but its natural diet remains incompletely understood. It would therefore be misleading to describe it as feeding exclusively on sponges.
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