---
title: Starfish (Asteroidea)
scientific_name: Asteroidea
common_name: Starfish
rank: Class
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T21:27:59.855Z
tags: Starfish, Asteroidea, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish
---

# Starfish (*Asteroidea*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Class
- **Scientific name:** Asteroidea
- **Body shape:** Invertebrate - Not a fish - coral, mollusc, crustacean, echinoderm and other invertebrate groups.
- **Species listed here:** 17

## How to recognise this group

- star-shaped body with radial arms
- arms extending from a central disc
- body surface smooth, granular, or spiny
- moves slowly using hundreds of tube feet
- often found on reef slopes or sandy bottoms

Starfish are echinoderms typically recognised by a central disc from which radial arms extend. Most species have five arms, though some possess many more, up to 40. Their body surface varies from smooth or granular to heavily spined, with a distinct madreporite usually visible on the upper side. Size in the Red Sea ranges from a few centimetres to over 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter. Colouration is highly variable across the group, including muted tones for camouflage, as well as vivid reds, oranges, and blues.

These animals move slowly across surfaces using hundreds of tube feet on their underside. They inhabit diverse marine environments, from shallow intertidal zones to deeper reef slopes and sandy bottoms, typically found down to 100 m (330 ft). Starfish diets vary significantly between species, including predation on bivalves, gastropods, and corals, as well as scavenging on detritus. Some species evert their stomach to digest prey externally. They are common residents throughout these habitats.


## Species (17)

- [Arabian Cushion Star (Culcita coriacea)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/arabian-cushion-star)
- [Burton's Sea Star (Aquilonastra burtoni)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/burtons-sea-star)
- [Comb Sea Star (Astropecten polyacanthus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/comb-sea-star)
- [Conand's Sea Star (Aquilonastra conandae)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/conands-sea-star)
- [Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/crown-of-thorns-starfish)
- [Cylindrical Sea Star (Dactylosaster cylindricus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/cylindrical-sea-star)
- [Egyptian Sea Star (Gomophia egyptiaca)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/egyptian-sea-star)
- [Granulated Sea Star (Choriaster granulatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/granulated-sea-star)
- [Hurghada Sea Star (Fromia ghardaqana)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/hurghada-sea-star)
- [Leach's Sea Star (Leiaster leachi)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/leachs-sea-star)
- [Mammillated Sea Star (Pentaceraster mammillatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/mammillated-sea-star)
- [Multipore Sea Star (Linckia multifora)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/multipore-sea-star)
- [Nail-armed Sea Star (Mithrodia clavigera)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/nail-armed-sea-star)
- [Nodose Sea Star (Fromia nodosa)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/nodose-sea-star)
- [Spiny Cushion Star (Culcita schmideliana)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/spiny-cushion-star)
- [Striated Sea Star (Valvaster striatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/striated-sea-star)
- [Warty Sea Star (Echinaster callosus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish/warty-sea-star)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/echinoderms/starfish)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*