Depth
Chaetaster · Marine Life

Chaetaster Longipes

Chaetaster longipes

0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Reef & Open
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Chaetaster
Species longipes

Echinoderm

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationA medium to large starfish with five long, slender, cylindrical arms and a small central disc. The body is covered in fine granules giving it a rough texture. Cream to pale orange, sometimes with faint darker banding on the arms.
  • SizeArm span up to 30 cm. The arms are noticeably long relative to the disc.
  • Social HabitSolitary. A slow-moving, deep-water species rarely encountered by recreational divers.
  • HabitatSandy and muddy bottoms on the deeper continental shelf. Found on soft substrates.
  • Depth30 to 500 m. Most common below 50 m.
  • Feeds OnOrganic matter in sediment and small bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Present in deeper Maltese waters.
  • DescriptionChaetaster longipes is a deep-water starfish that lives on soft seabeds beyond typical recreational diving depths. It is occasionally brought up in fishers' nets or observed on deeper technical dives. Its long, slender arms and pale colouring are distinctive. Relatively little is known about its ecology compared to the more visible shallow-water starfish species.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found across the Mediterranean, inhabiting reef & open environments. Active from the surface down to 40m depth.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Reef & Open habitats, typically at depths of 0-40m. Most commonly encountered by divers at the shallower end of its range.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Chaetaster Longipes species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Feeds on organic matter and micro-organisms in soft sediment. Uses its tube feet and external stomach to digest detrital material on sandy and muddy bottoms.

Deposit feeder

Reproduction

Sexes are separate, with external fertilisation following broadcast spawning. Planktonic larvae settle on soft substrates after several weeks of development.

Broadcast spawner

Behaviour & Defence

Its pale colouration provides effective camouflage against sandy substrates. Can autotomise arms if grasped by a predator, regenerating them over time.

Autotomy

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

The following dive sites offer strong habitat match for Chaetaster longipes. All are accessible on a guided dive with diveshack.

5-30m
North Malta

Cirkewwa

Rocky reef with caves, arches and ledges hosting a rich diversity of reef species.

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5-50m
Gozo

Blue Hole

One of the Med's most famous reef dive sites. Rocky walls and archways covered in life.

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18-36m
South Malta

Um El Faroud

The wreck lies on a sandy bottom surrounded by rocky reef -- a diverse habitat attracting reef species.

View dive site ›
IUCN Red List Least Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes to prey availability.

Source: iNaturalist Guide #888
by Lesley Clements (CC BY-SA)
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide