Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus
Marine Invertebrates
Rocky intertidal habitat
iNaturalist record: Apr 2022
Meet this species
Ochre sea stars are familiar predators of Pacific rocky shores. They feed on mussels and other invertebrates and are famous in ecology because experiments involving this species helped establish the idea that some predators can have disproportionately large effects on community structure.
Ochre sea star on rocky intertidal habitat near Greene Point.
What to look for:
Look for a five-armed sea star with a rough, spiny upper surface. Colours vary widely and may include purple, orange, reddish-brown or ochre. Pale markings between the spines can give the surface a distinctive textured appearance.
Why It Matters Here:
An ochre sea star is more than a colourful tidepool animal. It provides an accessible way to explain how predation can shape an entire rocky-shore community and why ecological relationships matter as much as simply counting species.
Field Record
Documented at Greene Point through field observations and photographs recorded on iNaturalist.