Leather Star
Dermasterias imbricata

Physical Description

• Seastar with five wide pointed arms surrounding a large, high disc.
• Blue-gray coloration, with red and orange mottling.
• Smooth and slippery texture, covered in slime, which makes animal feel like wet leather.
• Can be up to 10 inches in diameter.

Range

• Prince William Sound, Alaska to northern Baja California, Mexico.

Habitat

• Live in rocky shores and tide pools.
• Live in clean harbors on pilings and sea walls.
• Found from 0 to 300 feet depths.

Reproduction

• In Washington, spawning is from April to August.
• Reproduction is via broadcast spawning, where eggs and sperm are released into the water.
• The fertilized eggs become swimming larvae before transforming into sea stars that settle on the bottom.

Diet

• Sea anemones, California sea cucumber, purple sea urchin, sponges, hydroids, sea pens, sea vase tunicates, bryozoans, and other invertebrates.

Predators

• Morning sun stars eat them.
• Slimy texture detracts many predators.
• The leather star also exudes a garlic-like smell that also repels predators! 

Interesting Facts

• Unlike many other sea stars, leather stars swallow their prey whole and digest it internally.
• Unlike most other animals, sea stars do not have blood but instead use sea water to pump oxygen around their bodies.

Sources: Oregon Coast Aquarium; Tennessee Aquarium; seastarsofthepacificnorthwest.info; animals.net; Oak Bay Marine; Walla Walla University

Photo: Herb Gruenhagen