Luidia ciliaris

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Luidia ciliaris	Common name	Seven-armed starfish
MCS Code	ZB22	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Echinodermata	Subphylum	Asterozoa
Superclass		Class	Asteroidea
Subclass		Order	Paxillosida
Suborder		Family	Luidiidae
Genus	Luidia	Species	ciliaris
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Mortensen, 1927, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997
General Biology
Growth form	Radial, Stellate	Feeding method	Predator, Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Crawler, Burrower, Swimmer	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Infaunal
Typical food types	Echinoderms, polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and probably carrion	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Large(>50cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Brun, 1972, Heddle, 1967, Mortensen, 1927, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British coasts except the southern North Sea.
Global distribution	Predominantly recorded off the British Isles and Ireland, off the Faroe Isles and in the North Sea but may be found in the Mediterranean and as far south as central west Africa.
Biogeographic range	Temperate.	Depth range	From 4 m to 400 m depth.
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Coarse clean sand, Fine clean sand, Muddy sand, Gravelley sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore, Bathybenthic (Bathyal)	Wave exposure	Field unresearched
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
Distribution References	Mortensen, 1927, NBN, 2002, Bruce et al., 1963, Mortensen, 1927, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Not researched
Reproductive Season	Not researched	Reproductive Location	Insufficient information
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	Yes
Life span	3-5 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1 year
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	Insufficient information
Egg/propagule size	Insufficient information	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period Not researched Duration of larval stage Not researched
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Mortensen, 1927, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b