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Rainbow Star

Orthasterias koehleri

Photo by Brian38
Published on Project Noah
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48.3331, -124.49

Field Notes

Description:

Five long tapering arms that are cream and red banded. This one was about 12 in. (30.48 cm). The surface is covered with sharp white or mauve spines, each surrounded by a ring of pedicellariae, tiny pincer-like organs.

Habitat:

Spotted in a tide pool along the Strait Of Juan De Fuca, Olympic Peninsula.

Notes:

Found in northern parts of the Pacific Ocean with its range extending from California to Alaska.

Reference Links:

Rainbow Star (Orthasterias koehleri) · iNaturalist.org

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)
Neil Ross
OMG Starfish heaven. That's a beauty. I don't recall seeing startfish like these on Australia's east coast, although the warm current most likely has something to do with that. They might be here, but I haven't seen them. I wonder if Mark and Leuba have down Melbourne-way. Bass Straight is much colder, and probably more like Pacific northwest waters.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Sea life of the Pacific Northwest.
Mission
The Pacific Northwest Bioregion

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMay 20, 2019

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