Ochre Starfish, Pisaster ochraceous

Ochre Starfish, Pisaster orchraceous. Star collected in coastal waters off Bandon, Oregon,  August 2009. Pictured stars wingspan: 25 cm (10 inches).

The Ochre Star, Pisaster ochraceus (Brandt, 1835), is a member of the Asteriidae Family of Starfish, and is known in Mexico as estrella ocre. There are three global members of the Pisaster Genus, all of which are found along the Pacific Coast of North American, two of which are found along the Pacific Coast of North American in Mexican waters.

The Ochre Star has five thick arms. The aboral surface may be orange, purple, reddish-brown or purple in color and varies significantly based on diet. They have white spines that form a net-like pattern on the arms and form a star shape on the central disc. The Ochre Star reaches a maximum of 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter.

The Ochre Star is found on rocky reefs, in areas exposed to surf and surge, from the intertidal zone to depths up to 97 m (318 feet). They feed on algae, echinoderms, and other small invertebrates including mussels which otherwise would eradicate other plant and animal species. They play an important role in increasing the biodiversity in an area and have been utilized as an indicator of the health of the local environment.

The Ochre Star is a resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean, however they have a limited distribution from Guerrero Negro, Baja California, northward along the central and northwest coasts of Baja.

Synonyms include Asteracanthion margaritifer, Asterias conferta, Asterias fissispina, Asteracanthion janthina, Asteracanthion margaritifera, Asteracanthion ochracea, Pisaster confertus, Pisaster fissispinus, Pisaster ochraceus ochraceus, Pisaster ochraceus segnis, and Pisaster ochraceus var. nodiferus.