Sea Stars

More Ocean Resources Beach Pictures Ocean Animals

Sea Stars or Starfish are marine animals called echinoderms, found in many of the world's coastal areas.

Echinoderms commonly share the physical characteric of having symetrical bodies.

Most sea star species, like the Pisaster ochraceus, also known as the purple orchre star, at the top of the page, are easily recognized by their five arms and a spiny back.

The picture at the bottom shows an orange version of the Pisaster ochraceus.

Other sea star species have different appearances. The sunflower star, for example, a common West Coast sea star, has twenty four legs.

The batstar has shorter arms and a larger central body area.

Seastars are often found in the middle and low littoral zones (the areas furthest from the high tide mark on the shoreline) because their bodies are not designed to be out of the water for extended periods of time.

Sea stars are not considered endangered, however, like other marine life, their existence depends on healthy oceans.

Recent reports about coastal dead zones along the West Coast, ocean areas that lack oxygen, also include reports of dead sea stars.

© 2007. Patricia A. Michaels