Porania pulvillus

Porania pulvillus, also called the red cushion star, is a species of sea star in the family Poraniidae. The specific name pulvillus means "little cushion."

Description
Porania pulvillus is up to 12 cm in diameter. The aboral surface (top) is usually bright red but may be purple, orange or yellow. It has white/yellowish spots and bands that radiate from the centre, and smooth greasy skin. The madreporite is in the centre. P. pulvillus has translucent soft papillae that act as gills. The oral surface (underside) is pale. This sea star has five short, broad arms. Each arm has two rows of small ossicles on either side. It has no pedicellariae.

Distribution
Found in the waters off Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, New England and Newfoundland.

Environment
Porania pulvillus is sublittoral, typically living at 10 - 300 m depth, but some at up to 1000 m.

Behaviour
Porania pulvillus produces brachiolaria larvae in spring. It is gonochoristic.

It feeds on detritus and the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum.