The sunflower sea star is among the largest sea stars in the world, with a diameter that can exceed 3 feet.

The sunflower sea star is generally purple, orange or red in color, with a rough texture caused by its numerous spines.

Like all sea stars, the sunflower sea star has a star-shaped form, but in this case with a central disk-shaped body and a greater number of arms—between 16 and 24—that radiate like a sun or a sunflower.

The sunflower sea star inhabits the waters of the eastern Pacific ocean along the North American coast, ranging from Alaska in the north to Baja California in the south. It is found along the coasts of California, the states of Oregon and Washington, as well as the province of British Columbia in Canada.

The sunflower sea star prefers relatively cold, nutrient-rich waters and can be found at depths ranging from the surface down to about 300 feet. It is often found at the base of giant kelp forests, where it plays an important role in maintaining the ecosystem.

The sunflower sea star is a formidable predator that feeds mainly on mollusks, crustaceans, small fish and other marine species. It captures its prey by wrapping its arms around it and slowly moving it toward its mouth, located at the center of its underside.

The sunflower sea star reproduces both sexually and asexually, meaning it can regenerate from a single arm, especially when injured, giving it a significant survival advantage.

Unfortunately, the sunflower sea star has been severely affected by a syndrome known as sea star wasting disease (SSWD), which caused high mortality rates and a massive population decline in certain regions, making its conservation a major concern.

The sunflower sea star is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The sunflower sea star appears in the IUCN Red List since 2021 within the category Critically Endangered !