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Sunflower Stars

Pycnopodia helianthoides
A sunflower sea star resting on the wall of a tank, slightly shadowed

Sunflower Stars

Pycnopodia helianthoides
At the Aquarium
Rocky Coast

At the Aquarium

Rocky Coast

Appearance

Large and soft star with 15-24 arms that can reach lengths of 23.6 inches each. Variable colors include beige, orange, red, gray or purple.

Habitat

Habitat generalist: mud, sand, shell, rocky bottoms, and kelp forests. Found in the lower rocky intertidal and subtidally is most common in shallower waters up to 82 feet, though they can rarely be found as deep as 984 feet.

Diet

Voracious carnivore: snails, bivalves, crabs, sea urchins, sea stars, and sea cucumbers

Life History

Sunflower stars are broadcast spawners. Larvae start life as plankton, swimming about and feeding for 50-146 days, before they settle to the bottom and undergo metamorphosis. A juvenile will start with 5 arms but by the time they reach maturity, they can have 24 arms. Diameter up to 3.3 feet; may live up to 65 years.

IUCN Status

Critically Endangered

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Sunflower stars are considered keystone predators in areas such as kelp forests. Their predation of sea urchins helps keep their numbers in balance. When Sea Star Wasting Syndrome broke out in 2013 and decimated sunflower star numbers, sea urchin numbers increased dramatically, leading to a decrease in kelp.

In 2023, Oregon Coast Aquarium staff developed a treatment plan for the deadly set of symptoms that have decimated sea star populations as a result of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS). There is no known cure for SSWS, but thanks to the efforts of OCAq staff, there is now an effective treatment. Over the last two years, OCAq Aquarist Tiffany Rudek worked to develop a reliable method of treating ill, injured, or stressed sea stars. Read the full article to learn more

Crabs, including red king crabs, morning and Stimpson’s sun stars, glaucous-winged gulls, and sea otters are predators that feed on sunflower stars.
Range
Alaska to California
On the Oregon Coast
Now that sunflower stars have started to reappear on the Oregon Coast, you might get lucky and find a juvenile sunflower star while tidepooling.
Fun Facts
This is one of the largest and fastest sea stars in the world. It can weigh up to 17.6 lbs, and with its 15,000 tube feet, can move up to 63 inches in one minute. When the smaller predatory Dawson’s sea star attacks a sunflower star, it may drop an arm and flee.

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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