Species · GBIF taxon 2271961
Leather Star
Dermasterias imbricataAlso known as Garlic Star, Garlic Cookie
Leather stars glide over rocky reefs and tide pools, easily recognized by their smooth, slippery, leather-like skin and a distinct aroma of garlic or sulfur. Unlike most sea stars with rough, spiny surfaces, their skin is covered in a thick mucus layer that deters parasites and predators. They are active predators of sea anemones, which release from the rocks and swim away in a dramatic escape response when touched by this star.
IntertidalMarineScented
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aggregating Anemone
- California Sea Cucumber
- Sponges
Predators
- Morning Sun Star
- Sea Otters
- Gulls
ThreatsSea star wasting disease, ocean warming, and habitat degradation
HabitatsRocky intertidal zones, kelp forests, and subtidal reefs
Life spanUp to 20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsteropseidae
- SpeciesDermasterias imbricata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Smell gently: Sniffing the star closely reveals a strong, characteristic scent of garlic or sulfur.
- Do not pry: Avoid pulling them off rocks, as this can tear their delicate tube feet.
- Watch for reactions: Look for nearby anemones detaching and swimming away to escape the star's chemical signature.
Predator (c) Erin McKittrick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Erin McKittrick · cc-by
Competitor no rights reserved · cc0
Prey "Aggregating Anemone, anthopleura elegantissima" by Ed Bierman is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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