Sunflower Sea Star

Pycnopodia helianthoides

Summary 2

Pycnopodia helianthoides, commonly known as the sunflower sea star, is a large sea star found in the northeast Pacific. It is among the largest sea stars in the world (but not quite the largest), with a maximum arm span of 1 m (3.3 ft). Sunflower sea stars usually have 16 to 24 limbs; their color can vary widely. They are predatory, feeding mostly on sea urchins, clams, snails, and other small invertebrates.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) andrewbickell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
  2. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pycnopodia_helianthoides

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