Sea Stars

The Bat Star, Leather Star, and Ochre Star are common species of seastars in tidepools and rocky reefs along the Pacific coast. Seastars play important roles in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems, acting as a keystone species, their feeding habits maintain a balanced diverse ecosystem. Bat Stars are known for their webbed arms that resemble a bat’s wings, and for their range of colors from bright orange to purple. Leather Stars have a smooth, slippery surface that feels almost rubbery and give off a distinct odor when handled. Ochre Stars are often deep orange, purple, or brown and have small white pincher-like structures on their skin called pedicellariae to keep them clean and debris-free