‘Record-breaking’ giant starfish found in Oban

A GIANT spiny starfish found in Oban Bay could be the largest of its kind ever spotted.

Farrah Minchin from the Loch Lomond Sea Life centre holds the giant spiny starfish. Picture: Saltire News & Sport

It is believed the creature, which is over three feet from tip to tip, could be a record breaker.

The average starfish is 4.7 to 9.4 inches long, usually weighing around 11 pounds.

Marine scientists have been “renaming” the creatures sea stars because they are not fish but are in fact echinoderms which are closely related to sea urchins and sea dollars.

There are over 2,000 known species in the world and they have striking colours which camouflage them.