Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Tripadvisor Tiktok
Buy Tickets
Membership
Accessibility
Careers
Donate

Leather Star

Dermasterias imbricata

Leather Star

Dermasterias imbricata
Other Common Names
Garlic star
At the Aquarium
Sandy Coast, Rocky Coast
Other Common Names
Garlic star

At the Aquarium

Sandy Coast, Rocky Coast

Appearance

These sea stars have 5 arms, and can reach up to 12 inches across. The upper surface is reddish-brown with blue-gray patches, with reddish-orange patches of gills.

Habitat

Found from the intertidal to depths of 300’, usually on rocks but sometimes on sand or mud.

Diet

Fish eggs, sea anemones, sea urchins, sea sponges, sea pens, and other invertebrates

Life History

They can reproduce asexually by dividing or regenerating missing parts. These sea stars are broadcast spawners. Females release small, translucent, yellow-orange eggs that drift. The first larval stage, called a bipinnaria, feeds on zooplankton as it swims and drifts about. The larva will later develop 3 short, sticky arms on its underside for attaching to the bottom. This later larval stage is called a brachiolaria, or anchor larva.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

These stars are important to their predators. Predators of the leather star include larger sea stars, sea gulls, and sea otters. Leather stars will sometimes have a red-banded commensal worm Arctonoe vittata living on them.
Range
Alaska to Baja California, Mexico
On the Oregon Coast
You can find these sea stars in tide pools.
Fun Facts
They feed by expelling their stomach out through their mouth to trap prey and release digestive enzymes. When a leather star touches a swimming anemone, the anemone will detach and swim away

Citations & Other Resources

  • Invertebrates of the Salish Sea website: https://inverts.wallawalla.edu/Echinodermata/Class%20Asteroidea/Dermasterias_imbricata.html
  • National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: https://marinesanctuary.org/blog/sea-wonder-leather-sea-star/
  • Sea Stars of the Pacific Northwest website: https://www.seastarsofthepacificnorthwest.info/leather-star.html
  • Victoria High Marine website: https://dev.vichighmarine.ca/leather-star/
Back to All Animals

Contact Us

Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Youtube Tiktok Tripadvisor

Subscribe to E-Newsletter

Subscribe Now

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.

TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award 2025 — Oregon Coast Aquarium
Sensory Inclusive certified venue — Oregon Coast Aquarium
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited member
25 years of AZA accreditation — Oregon Coast Aquarium

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Media Policy

Copyright © 2026 Oregon Coast Aquarium. All rights reserved.

Need to update your cookie permissions?

×
Cookies
We use cookies to improve your experience and see how our guests are navigating the website. If this is alright by you, hit 'Accept All', or 'Settings' to customize and learn more. Read our cookie policy
Settings Accept All
Cookies
Choose what kind of cookies to accept. Your choice will be saved for one year. Read our cookie policy
Save Accept All