Species · GBIF taxon 2272172
Bat Star
Patiria miniataAlso known as Sea Bat, Webbed Star, Broad-disk Star
Bat stars are colorful, webbed echinoderms that crawl across the rocky reefs and kelp forests of the Pacific coast. When two individuals meet, they often engage in slow-motion pushing contests, attempting to drape their arms over one another to assert dominance. They feed by everting their translucent stomachs directly onto algae, dead animals, or colonial bryozoans, digesting their meals externally.
MarineColorfulInvertebrate
Licensed reference(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Algae
- Dead animal matter
- Sponges
Predators
- Sea otters
- Morning sun stars
- Gulls
ThreatsSea star wasting disease and ocean warming
HabitatsRocky intertidal zones, kelp forests, and sandy bottoms
Life spanUp to 30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsterinidae
- SpeciesPatiria miniata
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
- Look in tide pools: Search under ledges and in crevices during low tide.
- Do not pry: Avoid pulling them off rocks to prevent tearing their delicate tube feet.
- Observe the underside: Look for the everted stomach if they are feeding on algae.
Predator (c) Erin McKittrick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Erin McKittrick · cc-by
Competitor no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.