Pycnopodia helianthoides, commonly known as the sunflower sea star, is a large sea star found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. [3] The only species of its genus , it is among the largest sea stars in the world, with a maximum arm span of 1 m (3.3 ft).

2024年11月20日 · The sunflower sea star occurs throughout intertidal and subtidal coastal waters of the Northeast Pacific Ocean from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to at least northern Baja California, Mexico. They are found to a depth of at least 435 meters on various substrate types, from rocky kelp forests to sand and mud flats.

2023年8月30日 · The sunflower sea star is the largest species of sea star in the global ocean, with 24 large arms and a diameter of nearly three feet from arm tip to arm tip when full grown. They can grow to weigh as much 13 pounds and, despite its large size, this species may also be the world’s fastest sea star.

Sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) are marine invertebrates also called starfish by some and asteroids by scientists, that belong to the same family as as sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sand dollars.

The sunflower sea star is the largest of the sea stars and has the most arms. It may also be the fastest sea star. It is typically found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Unalaska Island, Alaska, to Baja California, but less typically south of Monterey Bay.

2023年4月26日 · Sunflower sea stars are native to marine waters along the Pacific Coast, from northern Baja California to the central Aleutian Islands.

2022年11月15日 · The sunflower sea star is a top predator in kelp forests and helps control the urchin population by feeding on them. Sunflower sea stars are considered keystone species, and losing them can have cascading effects that destabilize the entire ecosystem, resulting in …

For a sea star, this animal is a voracious predator. When on the prowl for food, the sunflower star swings along on its 15,000 tube feet — moving at the remarkable speed of over 40 inches (1 m) per minute.

Sunflower sea stars (Scientific name: Pycnopodia helianthoides) are one of the most interesting and unique sea stars. They are the biggest and fastest and have the most arms. The radiant colors they come in — shades of red, yellow, brown, …

Amazing Species: Sunflower Sea Star The Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) is among the largest and fastest sea stars in the world, with its 16 to 24 limbs reaching a diameter of up to one metre. It lives along the vast majority of the Pacific coast of North America.