Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus
Animalia
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- Up to 20 yrs
- Size
- Large
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Activity
- Cathemeral
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Rocky intertidal zone
- Range
- North America
- Movement
- Walking
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Armor
- Status
- Common
About
The ochre sea star is a keystone predator of Pacific rocky intertidal zones, keeping mussel populations in check and maintaining the diversity of the entire shoreline community. Despite the name, individuals range from deep purple to bright orange — colour is genetic, not a sign of health.
Life cycle
- 1.juvenileA juvenile star settles onto the seafloor after its larval phase and begins crawling and feeding.
- 2.adultFully grown, with adult arm count and pattern.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Echinodermata
- Class
- Asteroidea
- Order
- Forcipulatida
- Family
- Asteriidae
- Genus
- Pisaster
- Species
- Pisaster ochraceus