Description: This large seven-armed starfish was rarely encountered during fieldwork Whirlwind and not seen at Lancaster. It is most likely Luidia ciliaris indentified from the photographs by the number of arms (seven), the long tube feet, velvety orange/brown texture and pale coloured spines on the margins of the arms. It is found on sandy or gravel seabed down to 400 m depth off European coasts with Shetland near the northern limit of its range. They may lie buried in the sediment and are predators of other echinoderms such as brittle stars and asteroids. They may grow up to 60 cm in diameter. Item Type: Image Title: Luidia ciliaris Copyright: SERPENT Species: Luidia ciliaris Site: Atlantic -- North Sea -- West of Shetland -- WhirlwindNorth Sea -- West of Shetland -- Whirlwind Depth (m): 184 Latitude: 60 deg 17' 01" N Longitude: 3 deg 50' 19" E Countries: UK -- West of Shetland Habitat: Benthic Rig: Wilphoenix Project Partners: Hurricane Exploration (HEX), Fugro ROV: Super Spartan Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 05 January 2015
