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) Paul Norwood, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Paul Norwood
2. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pycnopodia_helianthoides

More Info

• iNat taxon page
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• SeaLifeBase
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