Name: False ochre star
Scientific Name: Evasterias troschelii (Stimpson)
Family: Asteroidea
Group: Sea-stars, sea-urchins and sea-cucumbers
Class: Invertebrates
Size: 26-50 cm.
The false ochre star is an echinoderm that lives on rock or sand bottoms, up to 70 metres deep. The distribution of the small thorns on its upper side follows no geometric pattern and its colour may be as varied as orange, brown, blue and grey. At the end of each arm, it has got little spots formed by a light sensible pigment, which enables it to look for shelter in dark places. Its diet is composed of molluscs and sea urchins. In order to feed itself, this starfish everts its stomach, that is, expands it and puts it in contact with the prey, segregating digestive enzymes on it. The digestive process may last up to 3 days. Its main predators are birds.
Photo by:
Jan Haaga (www.afsc.noaa.gov)
Temperate Pacific
