Pycnopodia helianthoides
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.
Sunflower sea stars are broadcast spawners that require close proximity to mates for successful fertilization.
There is no single, systematically collected data set that provides population size or long-term trend data for the sunflower sea star throughout its range. However, from 2013-17, an outbreak of sea star wasting syndrome contributed to precipitous population decline, with impacts largely progressing sequentially from south to north. Disease, specifically sea star wasting syndrome, is the primary threat to the species. The influence of environmental stressors, including those associated with directional shifts in habitat traits over the long term, on disease risk are unresolved and are a major research focus.
Sunflower sea stars can be found from the northeast Pacific Ocean in Alaska to at least Baja California, Mexico. This sea star is found both along outer coasts and inside waters, and prefers temperate waters.
World map providing approximate representation of the sunflower sea star range
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Echinodermata | Class | Asteroidea | Order | Forcipulatida | Family | Asteriidae | Genus | Pycnopodia | Species | helianthoides |
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Sunflower sea star in an aquarium exhibit. Credit: Adobe Stock
A sunflower sea star. Credit: Gullekson/WDFW
Sunflower sea star. Photo: Janna Nichols