Mottled Sea Star (Evasterias troschelii)

Other Names: False ochre sea star

Description: The mottled sea star is a large starfish, consisting of a body with five rays, growing up to 60 cm across. They vary in color, ranging from brown, blue, green, pink, red and orange, and have an irregular line of white-tipped spines running down the centre of their rays. 

Habitat: Mottled sea stars range along the coast from Alaska to California, as well as some areas of Russia. They are most commonly found in the low intertidal zone, on rocks or in the sand, and can occasionally be found amongst the eelgrass as well. 

Diet:  Similar to other sea stars, the mottled sea stars diet consists of muscles, barnacles, chitons, snails and lamp shells. 

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• The mottled sea star can evert its stomach up to a distance that is equal to half the length of a ray.

Reference: Biodiversity of the Central Coast