crustacean · GBIF taxon 2273754
Purple Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceusAlso known as Ochre Sea Star, Ochre Starfish, Purple Starfish
These robust echinoderms cling tightly to wave-swept rocks along the Pacific coast, displaying striking colors from deep purple to bright orange. As a classic keystone species, they control mussel populations, preventing them from monopolizing the rocky intertidal zone and allowing diverse communities to thrive. During low tide, they endure hours of exposure to air by tightly sealing themselves to the rock face to retain moisture.
Keystone SpeciesIntertidalMarine
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- diet
- Carnivorous (mussels, barnacles, limpets, and snails)
- family
- Asteriidae
- threats
- Sea star wasting disease, ocean warming, and coastal pollution
- life Span
- Up to 20 years
NE
Safe to observe at a normal distance; avoid pulling them off rocks to prevent injury.
- Look but do not pull: Never pry them off rocks, as this can tear their delicate tube feet and injure them.
- Watch for color morphs: Look for orange, brown, and purple individuals living side-by-side in the same tide pool.
- Observe feeding behavior: Look underneath a slightly raised star to see if its stomach is everted over a mussel.