This species lives in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean, but the two populations show differences in superomarginal plates.

This starfish has a well-developed and raised superomarginal plates and the specimens in the Mediterranean are totally devoid of spines.

The colour of aboral side is pink homogeneous, often violet in towards the end of the arms and sometimes there are many small darker spots in the central disc.

Usually this starfish can be distinguished easily and safely from the others species of Mediterranean for superomarginal plates devoid of spines and from colour.

This sea star is a carnivore and feeds on molluscs, which it catches with its arms and then takes to the mouth.