Porania pulvillus

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Porania pulvillus	Common name	A cushion star
MCS Code	ZB54	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Echinodermata	Subphylum	Asterozoa
Superclass		Class	Asteroidea
Subclass		Order	Valvatida
Suborder		Family	Poraniidae
Genus	Porania	Species	pulvillus
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Southward & Campbell, 2006, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997
General Biology
Growth form	Radial, Stellate	Feeding method	Predator, Scavenger, Surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Crawler	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Epibenthic
Typical food types	The cnidarian Alcynonium digitatum, the brachiopod Crania anomala, ascidians and other invertebrates including carrion	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	Low (10-45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Medium(11-20 cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Ericsson & Hansson, 1973, 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	Found in north-west Europe from the northern North Sea to the Bay of Biscay.
Biogeographic range	Temperate.	Depth range	From 10 m to 300 m, seldom down to 1000 m depth.
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Muddy gravel, Sandy mud, Mud, Gravelly mud	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed
Biological zone	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	Southward & Campbell, 2006, 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	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1-2 years
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	Gemmill, 1915, Mortensen, 1927, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993