Ochre sea star

Description:

Is a common starfish found among the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Pisaster is considered an important indicator for the health of the intertidal zone. This sea star has five arms that rang from 10 to 25 cm. Most individuals are purple, but some can be orange, orange-ochre, yellow, reddish, or brown. The aboral surface contains many small spines (ossicles) that are arranged in a netlike or pentagonal pattern on the central disk. The tube feet have suckers on their distal ends which allow them to attach to the rocky substrate and live in heavily wave-swept areas.

Habitat:

These are in the Auqrium of the Bay, SF.