Sunflower Sea Star
ExploreInvertebrate
Sunflower Sea Star
pycnopodia helianthoides
The Sunflower Sea Star is a colorful starfish with lots of arms! It can have up to 24 arms and loves to crawl along the ocean floor.
Habitat: They live in the ocean, often in rocky or sandy areas along the coast.
Appearance
The Sunflower Sea Star has a striking appearance with up to 24 long, tapering arms radiating from a large central disc. Its skin can be vibrant orange, purple, pink, or yellow, and feels soft and velvety, unlike other spiny sea stars.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumEchinodermataClassAsteroideaOrderForcipulatidaFamilyAsteriidaeGenusPycnopodia
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
A Sunflower Sea Star can have thousands of tiny tube feet under its arms!
It can move super fast, gliding up to a meter in just one minute!
This giant can live up to 35 years in the wild!
This is the largest sea star on Earth, reaching up to 1 meter across!
Special abilities
Ability
Limb Re-Grow
Sunflower Sea Star can regrow lost arms because of special stem cells that help them survive injuries.
Ability
Swift Glider
Sunflower Sea Star can move quickly across the seafloor using thousands of tube feet that help them chase prey.
Ability
Stomach Attack
Sunflower Sea Star has an eversible stomach that helps them digest large prey outside their body.
Ability
Multi-Armed Power
Sunflower Sea Star can have up to 24 arms that help them grab and hold onto prey.
Measurements & details
- Average Weight
- 5 kg
- Max Weight
- 6 kg
- Number Of Arms
- 16-24
- Average Arm Length
- 40 cm
- Max Arm Length
- 100 cm
Diet & Feeding
This giant sea star eats many kinds of shellfish, snails, and even other sea stars!
Primary Foods
- clams
- snails
- sea urchins
- abalone
- mussels
- other sea stars
Foraging Method
- Pursuit
Ecological connections
hunts
California mussel
Mytilus californianus
favorite food source
hunts
Purple sea urchin
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
eats these spiny creatures
hunts
Ochre sea star
Pisaster ochraceus
can prey on other sea stars
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Sunstar
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Sunflower Sea Star weigh?
5 kg
What does Sunflower Sea Star eat?
This giant sea star eats many kinds of shellfish, snails, and even other sea stars!
Where is Sunflower Sea Star usually found?
They live in the ocean, often in rocky or sandy areas along the coast.
How does Sunflower Sea Star hunt?
Pursuit
How many arms does Sunflower Sea Star have?
16-24
What is the average Arm Length of Sunflower Sea Star?
40 cm
What is the max Arm Length of Sunflower Sea Star?
100 cm
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