Spiny starfish

Biology

This species has a large variety of colours and sizes, depending on its habitat: it can reach 70 centimetres in wingspan in deeper and sheltered places, taking a more vivid colour. It is a voracious predator and uses numerous spines surrounded by pedicellariae- modified spines for protection and hunting - to feed on shellfish, which, before being eaten, are digested on the outside.

Curiosities

Commonly captured in fishery nets, its pieces are very often thrown back to the sea by fisherman. With a high regeneration capability, each of those pieces give birth to a new spiny starfish.