Sunflower Sea Star
Scientific Name Pycnopodia helianthoides
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We found this Sunflower Sea Star moving quickly to get out of the intertidal zone and back in the water.
Amy Freeman

The Sunflower Sea Star is a type of sea star found in the Pacific Northwest. They usually have 16 to 24 limbs. The largest sea star ever found was a sunflower sea star, with an arm span of 3 feet 3 inches (1 meter)! This sunflower star that we found was only about 10 inches (25 cm). Their color ranges from orange or yellow to brown or purple. Sunflower sea stars are pretty fast, compared to other sea stars-- moving at 3 feet (1 meter) per minute. Their 15,000 tube feet underneath their body help them get around. They eat sea urchins, clams, snails, abalone, sea cucumber, and other sea stars.

Link http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/speciesid/fish_page/fish6a.html
Link http://pioneerunion.ca.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=2909&linkid=nav-menu-container-4-16829

 

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