Ochre (Purple or Pacific) Sea Star

Description:

The most common species in the mid- to lower-intertidal zones, Pisaster ochraceus has five stout arms (but occasionally four, six or seven) and inhabits water down to 300 feet, from Alaska to Baja California. It grows to a diameter of 14 inches, and comes in many colors, from purple to brown and orange to red.

Notes:

Sea stars use their tiny little tube feet to latch onto rocks as well as to feed. A visitor to the tide pool should not pull them off the rocks. This one was found upside down in the tide pool.