Crimson dermal starfish

The crimson dermal starfish is a species of Asteroidea starfish found in rough waters on a single planet. It is also known as the "starving" starfish, due to its high regrowth rate being incapable of dissolving in most stomach acids.

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

Crimson dermal starfish have the capabilities of regrowing its limbs, much like others in the animal family Asteroidea. The regrowth rate of the V. purpura is much higher than many other species. The average reqrow rate is that of 20% of a limb over the course of a matter of hours.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Found in rushing currents picking up a great amount of erosive sediment, V. purpura has developed its extreme growth rate in order to maintain durability. the mixture of currents and sediment erodes at the animal, causing bits of skin to be worn down, with large portions of skin being torn off.

Health Concerns

It has been warned that eating of the crimson dermal starfish has extreme consequences. Species with a stomach acidity of ph1 or ph2 might be able to consume as nromal. However, species with a ph3 or more, such as humans, would not be able to counter the regrow rate of the animal. As such, the animal is capable of regrowing inside the host to the point of full regeneration. The host is then satiated from food, causing malnourishment and, if left untreated, starvation.

Additional Information

Domestication

The crimson dermal starfish is notoriously difficult to keep in captivity, as the nature of its habitat makes the starfish very mobile.

Scientific Name

Pythonaster purpura

Conservation Status

Least concern

Average Length

Arm length of 8 in (20 cm)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Despite the name, meaning red skin, the epidermis of the crimson dermal starfish is a brown to orange tint. The name comes from the habitat being so abrasive to the creature that the red dermis is often visible.