Solaster endeca
species of echinoderm
The purple sunstar, northern sunstar, or smooth sun star, Solaster endeca, is a species of starfish in the family Solasteridae.
Description
Solaster endeca normally grow to an adult size of about 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) but in some cases reach 40 cm (16 in). It is a robust species with 9 or 10 arms (occasionally any number from seven to 13) set around a large disc. The aboral (upper) surface is formed of calcareous plates densely covered with paxillae, peg-like projections covered in tiny spinelets. No pedicellariae are present, but groups of two to three gills are found between the plates. On the oral (under) surface, the row of plates on either side of the ambulacral groove bear two or three spines and several rows of shorter spines, with two rows of tube feet. S. endeca ranges in colour from greyish-cream to pinkish-purple. The arms are often turned up at the tips, showing the pale oral surface. It can be confused with Crossaster papposus , the only British species with a similar number of arms, but S. endeca has a smoother aboral surface.
Distribution and habitat
The purple sun star occurs in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea at depths to 450 m (1,480 ft).
The public source identifies “Solaster endeca” as species of echinoderm. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Solaster, endeca and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Solaster endeca”, the useful work is to connect “species of echinoderm” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 11, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2464524. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Solaster endeca”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Solaster endeca primary sources, Solaster endeca archive and Solaster research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Solaster endeca”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Solaster endeca” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.