Red cushion starfish

Porania pulvillus

The red cushion star is a chubby starfish species that with a thick central disk and five short and fleshy arms. The surface is smooth and slimy to the touch. It is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean from the Bay of Biscay to Iceland and Norway. It also lives in the Western Atlantic Ocean from Caroline to Newfoundland. It can be found in kelp forests in shallow waters to about 1000 m dept.

The red cushion star is brightly colored and can be red, orange, purple or yellow. The underside is paler. This species is mostly detrivorous, meaning that it mostly feeds on dead material on the ocean bottom.

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