Species · GBIF taxon 2274565
Sunflower Sea Star
Pycnopodia helianthoidesAlso known as Sunflower Star, Multi-rayed Starfish
Sunflower sea stars are formidable marine predators that glide rapidly across the seafloor on thousands of specialized tube feet. They begin life with just five arms, growing up to twenty-four limbs as they mature into one of the largest and heaviest sea stars on Earth. Their soft, flexible bodies allow them to squeeze into rocky crevices, where they play a vital role in maintaining kelp forest ecosystems by keeping sea urchin populations in check.
MarinePredatoryKelp Forest
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Purple sea urchins
- Clams
- Sea snails
Predators
- Sea otters
- King crabs
- Gulls
ThreatsSea star wasting disease, warming ocean temperatures, and habitat degradation
HabitatsRocky reefs, kelp forests, and sandy bottoms of the intertidal and subtidal zones
Life spanUp to 65 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderForcipulatida
- FamilyAsteriidae
- GenusPycnopodia
- SpeciesPycnopodia helianthoides
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.
- What to notice
- Look for a massive, multi-armed star in shades of orange, purple, or brown, often found in deep tide pools or kelp beds.
- Support conservation
- Never touch, move, or remove these animals from the water, and report any sightings to marine conservation databases.
Responsible observation
- Look from above: Observe these giants in deep tide pools or from docks without touching their delicate skin.
- Report sightings: Document any healthy individuals to help researchers track population recovery efforts.
- Avoid handling: Leaving them submerged prevents stress and protects their fragile water vascular system.
Primary Prey (c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Co-occurring Predator no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative
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