Wild Wednesday - Bloody henry starfish
A fascinating marine species with some unique characteristics, the Bloody henry starfish, scientific name, Henricia oculatacan, can be found off the south and west coasts of the UK, in rockpools at low tide, in kelp forests and on gravel and shingle.
Despite its deceptive name, this starfish is less predatory than others, feeding on floating plankton, but also on small invertebrates and waste debris. They use their tube feet to crawl along the seabed, to depths of over 100m, to search for food and are more active at night.
You can identify it by it's It has five rigid looking arms that radiate from a central disc, like most starfish. The arms are flexible, allowing the starfish to move effectively across the sea floor in search of food. Their arms are long and thin, with a spiny texture that helps them cling to rocky surfaces.
It gets its name from its striking red or orange colour, which can look quite dramatic, when contrasted against its surrounding environment. The coloration is most intense on the arms, making it easily identifiable. Although normally red, but some are brown or purple.
Also known as 'blood stars' like many other starfish species, they have the remarkable ability to regenerate lost limbs. If an arm is damaged or lost, they can grow it back over time, making them resilient to injury.
To reproduce, they release eggs and sperm into the water column, where fertilization occurs. The larvae that emerge are planktonic (free-floating) and go through several stages before settling to the sea floor and developing into juvenile starfish.
These starfish are well adapted to survive in a variety of environments and can withstand colder water temperatures, which allows them to live in regions where many other starfish species would not be able to survive.
Did you know? Starfish don't have a brain.
Read more: Bloody henry starfish | The Wildlife Trusts