Porania pulvillus, also called the red cushion star or red cushion starfish, is a species of sea star in the family Poraniidae. The specific name pulvillus means "little cushion."[1]
Porania pulvillus is up to 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.[2] The madreporite is in the centre.[3] 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.[4]
There are two subspecies:
It is widely distributed in the northern Atlantic Ocean, including the waters off Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, New England and Newfoundland.[4]
Porania pulvillus is sublittoral, typically living at depth, but some at up to .[4]
Porania pulvillus produces brachiolaria larvae in spring. It is gonochoristic.[4]
It feeds on detritus and the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum.[4] [5]