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Velcro star

Stylasterias forreri
A velcro star, long spiny arms all spread out on a dark grey rock

Velcro star

Stylasterias forreri
Other Common Names
Fish-eating star, long-ray star, black star
At the Aquarium
Rocky Coast
Other Common Names
Fish-eating star, long-ray star, black star

At the Aquarium

Rocky Coast

Appearance

This spiny star can be found in a variety of colors including black, dark brown, olive, straw, or gray. It typically has 5 arms, each up to 13.2 inches long, with very large spines surrounded by a gray circle of tiny, pinching pedicellariae.

Habitat

Subtidal from 20-1,745 feet deep on rock or shell-gravel bottoms

Diet

Primarily snails, but also eats small fish such as sculpins, chitons, and scallops

Life History

Velcro stars reproduce by broadcast spawning. Eggs or sperm are released from small openings called gonopores between each arm. Larvae start life as plankton where they feed in the water column. They then undergo metamorphosis into the juvenile form and settle onto the bottom. Can grow up to 40 inches across.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

A scale worm will sometimes live atop a velcro star
Range
Alaska to California
On the Oregon Coast
You would have to scuba dive on the coast to observe one of these sea stars.
Fun Facts
A large velcro star can have as many as 50,000 powerful pedicellariae. Each spine is surrounded by 35-40 of these tiny pinchers which, when stimulated, rise up around the spine with the tiny jaws of each opening wide, ready to snap shut on anything that touches it, including fish. It will also use them to attack any morning sun stars that try to eat it.

This star can move at a top speed of 12.6 inches per minute.

Citations & Other Resources

Back to All Animals

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About Oregon Coast Aquarium

Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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