California Academy of Sciences, California Coast Gallery
The Northern California Coast exhibit complements the California and Climate Change exhibit nearby. Visible from the main floor, a sandy flat and salt marsh remind us of the habitats, beauty, and services provided by San Francisco Bay. A level below, a floor-to-ceiling view into the ...more ↓
Linckia columbiae
Linckia columbiae is a species of starfish in the family Ophidiasteridae that is found off the coast of California and adjacent areas of the semi-tropical north east Pacific Ocean. Common names include the fragile star, the Pacific comet sea star and the variable sea star.
Leather Star
Dermasterias imbricata or the leather star is a starfish in the family Asteropseidae. It is found at depths of up to one hundred metres off the western seaboard of North America.
Giant Sea Star
The giant sea star, Pisaster giganteus is a species of sea star that lives along the western coast of North America from Southern California to British Columbia. It makes its home on rocky shores near the low tide mark. It preys on mollusks. It can grow as large as 24 in (61 cm) in diameter. Its color varies from brown to red or purple.
Sunflower Sea Star
Pycnopodia helianthoides, commonly known as the sunflower seastar, is a large sea star found in the northeast Pacific. It is the largest sea star in the world, with a maximum armspan of 1 m (3.3 ft). Sunflower seastars usually have 16 to 24 limbs; their color can vary widely. They are predatory, feeding mostly on sea urchins, clams, snails, and other small ...more ↓
Bat Star
The Bat star (Asterina miniata), also known as Sea bat, Webbed star, Bat Man and Broad-disk star, is an echinoderm of class Asteroidea (commonly known as sea stars). It typically has five arms, with the center disk of the animal being much wider than the stubby arms are in length. Although the bat star usually has five arms, it sometimes has as ...more ↓
Common Sun Star
The common sunstar or Crossaster papposus is a species of sea star belonging to the family Solasteridae. It is found in the northern parts of both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.
Rainbow Star
Orthasterias is a genus of sea stars in the family Asteriidae. Orthasterias koehleri, the rainbow star or red-banded sea star, is the only species in the genus. It is found in the North Pacific Ocean.
Giant Sea Star
The giant sea star, Pisaster giganteus is a species of sea star that lives along the western coast of North America from Southern California to British Columbia. It makes its home on rocky shores near the low tide mark. It preys on mollusks. It can grow as large as 24 in (61 cm) in diameter. Its color varies from brown to red or purple.
Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus, generally known as the purple sea star, ochre sea star or ochre starfish, is a common starfish found among the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Identified as a keystone species, Pisaster is considered an important indicator for the health of the intertidal zone.
