Fauna
Invertebrate

Mottled Star

Evasterias troschelii

Also known as False Ochre Sea Star, Troschel's True Star, Mottled Sea Star

Mottled stars cling tightly to rocky shorelines, using hundreds of suction-tipped tube feet to withstand crashing Pacific waves. These adaptable predators hunt bivalves by using their arms to pry open shells before inserting their stomachs to digest the prey. Often confused with the ochre star, they are distinguished by their smaller central discs and longer, more slender arms.

MarineIntertidalPredator
Mottled Star reference
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMussels, Barnacles, Clams
Predators
  • Sea otters
  • Gulls
  • King crabs
ThreatsSea star wasting disease, ocean warming, coastal pollution
HabitatsRocky intertidal zones, kelp forests, gravelly beaches, and shallow subtidal reefs
Life span10 to 20 years
Classification
  1. FamilyAsteriidae
  2. SpeciesEvasterias troschelii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognizable by its five long, tapering arms, mottled coloration, and small central disc.
Support conservation
Avoid touching or moving them, as physical stress can exacerbate susceptibility to disease.
Responsible observation
  • Tread carefully: Watch your step on slippery intertidal rocks to avoid crushing hidden marine life.
  • Leave in place: Do not pry them off rocks, as this can tear their delicate tube feet.
  • Observe tide pools: Look for them clinging to vertical rock faces or tucked under kelp during low tide.
Related species
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