diving.voyage
Starfish

Marine life profile

Starfish

Recorded at 101 dive sites

Where divers encounter it

Explore Starfish around the world

Starfish or sea stars are a class of marine invertebrates generally shaped like a star polygon. (In common usage, these names are also often applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars.) Starfish are also known as asteroids because they form the taxonomic class Asteroidea (). Its movements may be subtle, but feeding, filtering and defensive responses are constantly reshaping the reef at close range.

Dive sites101
Countries27
Animal groupInvertebrates
Safety profileGenerally Harmless

Meet the species

What to look for

How to Recognize It

Slow down and look for distinctive texture, symmetry and color rather than a familiar fish-like silhouette.

How It Behaves

Its movements may be subtle, but feeding, filtering and defensive responses are constantly reshaping the reef at close range.

Special Ability

Specialized tissues, stinging cells, regeneration or chemical defenses solve survival without speed or heavy armor.

Dive responsibly

Share the water well

How to Approach

Perfect your buoyancy and observe from above without touching the animal or the surface supporting it.

Safety

Many invertebrates are fragile, venomous or irritating to skin. Keep hands, fins and equipment clear.

Worth knowing

The detail you remember

Interesting Facts

About 1,900 species of starfish live on the seabed, and are found in all the world's oceans, from warm, tropical zones to frigid, polar regions.

Where to Find

Look closely on reef walls, coral heads, sand, seagrass, jetties and shaded overhangs.

Known countries

AustraliaMaldivesItalyPhilippinesMexicoUnited StatesMauritiusMaltaMalaysiaSouth AfricaHondurasPortugal