Asterina gibbosa

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Asterina gibbosa	Common name	A cushion star
MCS Code	ZB59	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Echinodermata	Subphylum	Asterozoa
Superclass		Class	Asteroidea
Subclass		Order	Valvatida
Suborder		Family	Asterinidae
Genus	Asterina	Species	gibbosa
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward et al., 1996, Barnes, 1980, Fish & Fish, 1996, Emson & Crump, 1979, Baus et al., 2005, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
General Biology
Growth form	Stellate, Radial	Feeding method	Omnivore, Predator, Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Crawler	Environmental position	Epilithic, Epibenthic, Epifaunal
Typical food types	Benthic invertebrates including crustaceans, molluscs and other echinodermata.	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not researched	Flexibility	Low (10-45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	Insufficient information	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Picton, 1993, Mortensen, 1927, Murphy & Jones, 1987, Crump & Emson, 1983, Emson & Crump, 1984, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Common on many British and Irish coasts but sparse in the north-east and not recorded from Lincolnshire around to Hampshire.
Global distribution	Found in western Europe from Norway and the Shetland Isles south to the Azores and the Mediterranean.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	Lower shore to 30 m.
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Rockpools, Under boulders, Coarse clean sand, Biogenic reef, Mixed, Crevices / fissures, Artificial (e.g. metal/wood/concrete), Gravel / shingle, Large to very large boulders, Bedrock	Physiographic preferences	Estuary, Strait / sound, Enclosed coast / Embayment, Offshore seabed, Open coast
Biological zone	Lower Infralittoral, Upper Infralittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Lower Eulittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Upper Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Moderately Exposed, Exposed
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Insufficient information	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Picton, 1993, Mortensen, 1927, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Baus et al., 2005, Clark & Downey, 1992, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, NBN, 2002
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Self-fertilization, Protandrous hermaphrodite	Developmental mechanism	Lecithotrophic
Reproductive Season	late May to early June	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	Yes
Life span	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1-2 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	100 to 1,000
Egg/propagule size	ca. 0.5 mm	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Insufficient information Larval settlement period Not researched Duration of larval stage See additional information
Additional Information	Eggs take about 20 days to hatch increasing the potential for dispersal.
Reproduction References	Mortensen, 1927, Cognetti & Delavault, 1962, Crump & Emson, 1983, Southward & Campbell, 2006