Appearance and lifestyle:
The red sea star (Callopatiria granifera) (we don’t call them starfish anymore, because they’re not really fish!) is a prominent species, common off the South African coast. They are covered by deep orange or red skin resembling tiny overlapping tiles. This starfish has five fairly short arms that taper away from its body. The underside of the red starfish is flat, so its arms resemble semi-circles in cross section.
Habitat:
Common off the South African coast.
Diet:
Red starfish are true detritivores, scavenging on decomposing plant and animal tissue and waste.
Threats:
The red starfish has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List.
Can grow up to 15cm across, making it a mid-sized starfish.
Can easily regrow lost limbs.