Species profile
Common Sea Star
Asterias rubens
At a glance
Common Sea Star (Asterias rubens) is an echinoderm present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 1,310 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Maine, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- It ejects its cardiac stomach outside its body to digest mussels and clams in place.
- Thousands of tiny tube feet work in coordination to pry open bivalve shells.
- A lost arm can fully regenerate over the course of several months.
- Adults typically span 10–30 cm, with large individuals reaching up to 52 cm.
- They can live up to 7 years in the wild.
Where Common Sea Star are seen
Background
The common starfish, common sea star or sugar starfish is the most common and familiar starfish in the north-east Atlantic. Belonging to the family Asteriidae, it has five arms and usually grows to between 10–30 cm across, although larger specimens are known. The common starfish is usually orange or brownish in color, and sometimes violet; specimens found in deeper waters are pale.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Common Sea Star article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other starfish/urchins/cucumbers on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.