APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Marthasterias glacialis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Spiny starfish (Starfish images)
Scroll down and rollover titles to change screen image or click on title to view image.
Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- mature specimen 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- mature specimen 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- mature specimen 3

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- mature specimen 4

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- mature specimen underside 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- various colour forms 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- madreporite 1

Specimen above 'surrounding' on a prawn trap at Newlyn Marina, Newlyn, Cornwall. 07.11.14. This species can grow to approximately 700 mm in diameter.

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- various colour forms 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- bycatch 1

Specimens above photographed at Newlyn, Cornwall. 19.06.17 and 01.09.17.

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- center of dorsal surface 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- close-up of spines 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- close-up of tip of arm 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- madreporite 2

Specimen above found under a rock at Chimney Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall, 08.07.17.

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- pedicellariae 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- pedicellariae 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- pedicellariae 3

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- pedicellariae 4

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- ripe gonads 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- ripe gonads 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- ripe gonads 3

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- ripe gonads 4

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- ripe gonads 5

Pieces of pedicellariae and gonads from Marthasterias glacialis, Spiny starfish were found on washing specimens to look for other marine species, such as caprellids and crabs species. Starfish landed at Newlyn, Cornwall, 17.07.17 and 23.05.18, but originally from 30-40m off the Lizard.

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- walking across sand 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- walking across sand 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- tan brown / top view 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- grey / top view 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- orange-brown / top view 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- purple / top view 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- underside 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- underside 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- underside 3

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- centre / close-up 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- underside close-up 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- underside close-up 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- top view underwater 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- arm close-up 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- in pool 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- on marina pontoon 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- on marina pontoon 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- foot close-up 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- cushions of pedicellariae 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- cushions of pedicellariae 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- juvenile / close-up 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- juvenile / close-up 2

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- 3mm specimen? 1

Spiny starfish
Marthasterias glacialis
- 3mm specimen? 2

Images of species taken at various locations across Devon and Cornwall, these include Wembury, Devon and at Spit Point, Cornwall. Latest images from Chyandour Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 13.10.11.

Scientific and European Names:
Marthasterias glacialis, Spiny starfish, Eisseestern, Ijszeester, Etoile de mer glaciaire, Estrella espinosa comun, Martasterias, Stella spinosa.

The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help
people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.