Anseropoda placenta, also called the goose foot starfish, is a species of sea star in the family Asterinidae.
Description Anseropoda placenta is up to in diameter. It's a very thin, leaflike, flat sea star with short webbed arms. Its specific name refers to a kind of flat cake. The aboral surface (top) has a texture of small plates; it is white with five radiating red lines, one down the centre of each arm.
Distribution Most common in the Irish Sea and English Channel, and is more rarely found off Scotland. It is in rapid decline in Northern Ireland due to bottom fishing.
Environment Anseropoda placenta is sublittoral, typically living at depth, in muddy sand or muddy gravel; it has been found as deep as .
Behaviour
Anseropoda placenta produces large eggs in the summer. It feeds on benthic molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms.
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