Sunflower Seastar seen at the Stornetta Public Lands

The largest Sea Star in the world is the Sunflower Seastar, Pycnopodia helianthoides. Travis Winters was visiting relatives on the Mendonoma Coast and took his camera along when he hiked the Stornetta Public Lands. There he found this Sea Star.

I count twenty-one limbs on this big Sea Star. They can have between 16 and 24 limbs and they grow over three feet across. They eat Sea Urchins, Clams, Snails and other invertebrates.

Thanks to Travis for sharing his photo with us here. To see other photos from the magnificent Stornetta Lands, here are a few links: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/06/hidden-waterfall-on-stornetta-public.html  and http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2012/02/low-tide-at-stornetta-public-lands-in.html