Tag Archives: Starfish

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Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, are back, recovered from the wasting disease that decimated their numbers. Cece Case recently photographed three Ochre Stars off Cooks Beach in Gualala.

Peter Fimrite, of the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote about their miraculous recovery. He wrote, "The colorful invertebrates have undergone a remarkable genetic adaptation that is protecting them from the deadly pathogen, a new study has found." You can read Peter's entire article at this link: https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Starfish-on-California-coast-nearly-wiped-out-by-13018262.php

It truly is wonderful news. With the Sea Stars absence, Sea Urchins proliferated, decimating the kelp beds. This led to Abalones starving. It is hoped...and expected...that with the Stars recovery, the intertidal zone of the Pacific Ocean will be more in balance.

Thanks to Cece for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Sea Stars were hit hard by a wasting disease, which began several years ago. Their demise is one of the reasons things are out of balance in the ocean. I'm happy to report healthy Stars are being seen in the intertidal zone. John Wall recently photographed an Ocher Star.

Earlier this year Martin Steinpress found baby Stars, a heartwarming sighting.

In years past, Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, were seen in abundance. Craig Tooley took this great photo some years ago. May this become a more common sighting in the years to come.

Craig's photo appears in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year. He titled it "Sea Star party."

Thanks to John, Martin and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see more of Craig's nature photography, visit his website www.ruffimage.com

A warm, windless day so far on this Memorial Day.

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Martin Steinpress was out on the rocks at low tide at Cooks Beach. He wrote, “I saw a few medium-size Sea Stars, including two orange ones next to a bunch of Purple Sea Urchins. I found a whole ecosystem of inhabitants beneath and between some Mussels, including these small, one-inch-diameter Sea Stars. It’s nice to see them returning to our coast in a big way.”

Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, were devastated by a wasting disease. It’s believed to be a virus, and warmer waters might be a factor too. We have an over-abundance of Sea Urchins, causing an imbalance in the Pacific Ocean’s ecology. Sea Urchins have been eating much of the kelp, which leaves not enough kelp in some areas for the Abalones.

Sea Stars eat Sea Urchins, so we are rooting for their continued good health!

Thanks to Martin for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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Mark Simkins photographed a Sea Star on the move. It is reaching, perhaps, for a mussel. 

Sea Stars, more commonly called Starfish, move more quickly than you might expect. They have hundreds of tube feet on their undersides. Sea Stars are in the family Asteroidea. They are related to Sand Dollars, Sea Urchins and Sea Cucumbers. 
Low tide is a great time to see some, as Peggy Berryhill photographed above.
Thanks to Mark and Peggy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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I always save the Independent Coast Observer's tide table and put it on my refrigerator door so I know when the low tides are. Peggy Berryhill keeps her eye on the low tides too. She went out recently and here's what she discovered - beautiful Sea Stars nestled in with mussels.

Sea Stars, often called Starfish, are in the class Asteroidea. There are over 2,000 species of Sea Stars living in the world's oceans. They are closely related to Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars. One strange fact about Sea Stars is that they have no brains and no blood; they use filtered sea water in place of blood.

And when the tide is low, their loveliness is revealed to all.

Thanks to Peggy for allowing me to share her photo with you here.