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Ochre StarfishPisaster ochraceus |
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The Ochre Starfish may be found anywhere from Alaska down to Santa Barbara, although they are less common in central and southern California. Inhabiting the intertidal zones on rocky shores, Pisaster ochraceus also lives on rocks in the subtidal zone. While its average radius in the Monterey Bay is five and a half inches (14 cm), this starfish can grow to twice this size. Its arms are stout, tapering, and vary in number from four to seven (usually five). The body is covered with many small white spines arranged in detached groups or in a pattern, generally forming a star-shaped design on the central part of the disk. The ochre starfish can be colored yellow or pale orange to dark brown or deep purple. Feeding mainly on mussels, a hungry ochre starfish may resort to barnacles and other species, such as snails, limpets and chitons. An ochre starfish can pry open smaller mussels, but on tougher prey the starfish inserts its stomach into snail shells, or through very narrow slits to eat its prey. Adult ochre starfish appear to have few enemies, but some are eaten by sea otters and sea gulls. |
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Last modified: May 19, 1997 by Marti
Comments, complaints, compliments -- marti@cse.ucsc.edu