Echinasteridae

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Family: Echinasteridae

Group: Marine Invertebrate, Species

Scientific NameCommon NameSummary
Henricia leviusculaBlood starThis is one of the most popular starfishes in our region. It is equally bright, smooth and red as Dermasterias imbricata, but is much easier for beachcombers to find at low tide. Its arms are much thinner than those of Dermasterias imbricata, and many individuals have purple blotches in their "armpits." At this point, those individuals are considered conspecific. There are subspecies described from this area, notably H. leviuscula annectens, and H. leviuscula multispina. This species has seen some taxonomic upheaval recently, but according to Eernisse, D.J. & Strathmann, A.F. (2008), The original Henricia leviuscula can be found in southeast Alaska and points west. The blood star feeds on plankton, dissolved organic matter, and sponges.
Henricia pumilaLittle mottled starThis specieis was not described until 2010. It is probably uncommon in the Sitka area, but its similarity to Hexaster spp. probably leads a lot of naturalists to overlook it, unlike its relative Blood star (Henricia leviuscula).