Sunflower Sea Star
The Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), commonly found in the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to southern California, dwells on sandy and rocky bottoms. They begin life with only 5 legs, but by adulthood can have up to 24. Their color can vary widely. They can be orange, brown, purple, and other colors. Sunflower Sea Stars eat a variety of other animals including clams, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. To catch their prey, the sunflower sea star in able to move at a rate of up to 1 meter per minute using their approximately 15,000 tube feet.
