black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Marthasterias glacialis (Linnaeus, 1765)
Common names: Engl: Spiny star fish; Russ: Morskaya zvezda; Turk: Adi deniz
yildizi.
Order FORCIPULATA
Family ASTERIIDAE
Taxonomic description. A starfish with large subcylindrical, pointed arms. Body
covered with large protuberances set in longitudinal series and with strong spines.
Colour from greenish to reddish-brown. Size up to 70-80 centimeters.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level: VU
Subregion level: VU
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Found on rocky
and detrital bottoms 3-180 meters deep. This species is associated with mussels and
oysters and feeds on them. Common in the prebosphoric area and the western Black
Sea. Distributed through the Mediterranean Sea, Marmara Sea and Black Sea.
Marine zones near the coast at depths of 50 metres are where they reproduce.
Threatened by siltation, sand dredging and trawling.
Biology. Feeds on mussels and oysters.
Population trends. No data on numerical trends, but currently rare in the Black Sea.
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