Pycnopodia helianthoides

(Brandt, 1835)

Vernacular names
English : Sunflower seastar
French : Étoile de mer tournesol

Classification
Class : Asteroidea
Order : Forcipulatida
Family : Asteriidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
One of the biggest sea stars, its armspan growing up to 1 m. Its body has a smooth velvet-like texture. An adult has 16 to 24 arms (juveniles have 5 arms) with powerful suckers. Coloration ranges between orange, yellow, red or purple.

Range and habitat
Eastern Pacific, from Alaska to California. Lives around coastlines, in low subtidal and intertidal areas which are rich in kelp and seaweed. They never go in high and mid-tide areas.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species has been greatly affected by the Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. Many populations are now extinct and the species hasn’t recovered so far.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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