Measuring up to 14 inches, it has five stout arms, a rough, spiny surface, and colors ranging from purple and orange to brown.
Sea stars are a keystone species. By consuming mussels, which are dominant space-competitors, ochre sea stars create space for other species to survive, significantly increasing the biodiversity of the rocky intertidal zone.
Ochre sea stars have been severely impacted by Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS) since 2013, which causes them to develop lesions, lose limbs, and die. Some populations have shown recovery in the Pacific Northwest, and although not in high numbers, we are seeing some specimens at Point Lobos.
Sea stars eat their prey by pushing out their stomachs, surrounding the prey and dissolving it with stomach juices. The sea star then pulls its stomach back in and absorbs the nutrients from the prey. Ochre stars can live about 20 years.
Photo by Stephen Williams
Photo by Don Blohowiak
