Sea Stars

(Oregon to Southeast Alaska)

Click on photo to enlarge.  Scale line in photo equals 1cm unless otherwise specified.

Notations refer to how often they can be found intertidally by beachgoers in the Northwest plus
their full habitat range.  Some are more frequently found subtidally or in other parts of their range.
 










Citation:  Pacific Northwest Shell Club, www.PNWSC.org

Home > Northwest Shells & Marine Life > PNW Shells & Marine Life Photos > Sea Stars

Amphiuridae
Amphiodia occidentalis
Amphiodia occidentalis (Lyman, 1860)
Long-rayed Brittle Star
common, south California to central Alaska


Solasteridae
Crossaster papposus
Crossaster papposus (Linnaeus, 1767)
Rose Star
occasionally found, north Washington to
north Alaska, circumpolar, NE Asia
& northmost Atlantic















Asteriidae
Evasterias troscheliiEvasterias troschelii
Evasterias troschelii (Stimpson, 1862)
Mottled Star
very common, central California to
north Alaska & Siberia

Asteropseidae
Dermasteria imbricata Dermasterias imbricata
Dermasterias imbricata (Grube, 1857)
Leather Star
fairly common, north Mexico to central Alaska



























Ophiactidae
Ophiopholis aculeata
Ophiopholis aculeata (Linnaeus, 1767)
Daisy Brittle Star
occasionally found, southern California to
north Alaska & circumpolar

Goniasteridae
Mediaster aequalis
Mediaster aequalis Stimpson, 1857
Vermilion Star
infrequently found, north Mexico to Alaska














Henricia sp. nov.
Henricia pumila
Eernisse, M. Strathmann & R. Strathmann, 2010
Dwarf Mottled Henricia
occasionally found, especially to the north
Puget Sound, WA to south Alaska, could possibly
extend further south



Pisaster brevispinus Pisaster brevispinus Pisaster brevispinus
                                            close-up of top of arm                  close-up of tube feet
Pisaster brevispinus (Stimpson, 1857)
Giant Pink Star
occasionally found, southern California to south Alaska
2nd largest northwest intertidal species


Orthasterias koehleri Orthasterias koehleri Orthasterias koehleri
Orthasterias koehleri (de Loriol, 1897)
Rainbow Star
occasionally found, north Mexico to north Alaska














Pisaster ochraceus Pisaster ochraceus
Pisaster ochraceus (Brandt, 1835)
Ochre Star or Purple Star
very common, north Mexico to central Alaska



Leptasterias hexactis Leptasterias hexactis Leptasterias hexactis
                               Leptasterias hexactis (Stimpson, 1862)       eating a Nucella
Six Ray Star
common, north Washington to north Alaska






















Brittle Stars


Asterinidae
Patiria miniata
Patiria miniata (Brandt, 1835)
Bat Star
north Mexio to south Alaska





Solaster dawsoni Solaster dawsoni
             juvenile
Solaster dawsoni Verrill, 1880
Morning Sun Star
infrequently found, central California
to north Alaska, China, Japan & Siberia

Pterasteridae
Pteraster tesselatus Pteraster tesselatus Pteraster tesselatus
Pteraster tesselatus Ives, 1888
Slime Star or Cushion Star
only found subtidally, central California to north Alaska & Japan


Solaster endeca
Solaster endeca (Linnaeus, 1771)
Northern Sunstar
occasionally found, north Washington to
north Alaska, circumboreal, northmost Atlantic

Pycnopodia helianthoides Pycnopodia helianthoides Pycnopodia helianthoides
                           largest and fastest sea star in the world                                close-up of arm underwater
Pycnopodia helianthoides (Brandt, 1835)
Sunflower Star
very common, north Mexico to north Alaska















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This page last revised: 6-13-2021

Echinasteridae
Henricia leviuscula Henricia leviuscula Henricia leviuscula 
                                                                juvenile                    "shouldered" forms likely a
                                                                                                                different species
 

Henricia leviuscula (Stimpson, 1857)
Blood Star
common, north Mexico to north Alaska, Japan & Siberia



Brittle Star
Brittle Star
undetermined species








Solaster stimpsoni Solaster stimpsoni
Solaster stimpsoni Verrill, 1880
Striped Sunstar
occasionally found, central California to north Alaska