Stimpson’s Sun Star

Solaster stimpsoni

Stimpson’s Sun Star

Solaster stimpsoni

Other Common Names
Striped Sun Star

Sandy Coast

Other Common Names

Striped Sun Star

At the Aquarium

Sandy Coast

Appearance

The Stimpson’s sun star can grow to be nearly 20 in. wide. The center of the Stimpson’s sun star only makes up ¼ if its total diameter. Most other sun stars have larger centers, typically taking up ⅓ of the total diameter.

Sun stars have more arms, also known as rays, than other sea stars. Stimpson’s sun stars typically have ten rays, but have been sighted with more and fewer. This star is also called the striped sun star due to the blueish-gray stripes that go down each ray, contrasting with its orange-red skin.

Habitat

Rocky and sandy low intertidal and subtidal zones.

Diet

Sea cucumbers

Life History

Stimpson’s sun stars begin life as eggs which float towards the surface of the water. After just two days the eggs hatch into microscopic plankton. Over the next 40 days the plankton larvae develop into juvenile sun stars. These juveniles begin life with only five rays, growing more as they age.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Since the Stimpson’s sun star mainly eats sea cucumbers, they act as a way to bring nutrients into the ecosystem. Many sea cucumbers are scavengers that eat dead and decaying matter off the seafloor. By eating sea cucumbers and then later being eaten, the Stimpson’s sun star helps recycle nutrients back into the upper levels of the ecosystem.

Along the coastline between northern California and the southern Bering Sea.

Stimpson’s sun stars live in areas that are always submerged. While a rare sight, extreme low tides may reveal these elusive sun stars hunkered down in deep tide pools.

Stimpson’s sun stars are a favored prey of the Dawson’s sun star. Since the Dawson’s sun star needs to fully crawl over the Stimpson’s sun star to eat it, the Stimpson’s sun star will attempt to outrun its predator. If caught, Stimpson’s sun stars curl up their arms in attempts to ward off predators.

Citations & Other Resources

Morris, R. H., A. P. Donald, H. C. Eugene. 1990. Intertidal Invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA, USA.
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound. 2024. Solaster stimpsoni. University of Washington. https://www.eopugetsound.org/species/solaster-stimpsoni
Carson, S. F. 1989. Development and Reproductive Biology of Three Species of Solaster Sea Stars From The Northeast Pacific Ocean. Thesis, University of Alberta.

Stimpson’s Sun Star

Stimpson’s Sun Star

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

Contact Us

Subscribe to E-Newsletter

About Oregon Coast Aquarium