Forbes’ Sea Star: here’s the scoop
threats
There are over 2,000 species of sea star living in all the world’s oceans. The five-arm varieties are the most common, hence their name, but species with 10, 20, and even 40 arms exist.
Over the past couple years there has been a massive die-off of 10-100 million sea stars due to a syndrome known as sea star wasting disease which causes the animal to lose limbs and eventually disintegrate. Scientists and researchers are currently examining and studying this devastating disease which has affected sea stars all the way from Alaska down to Mexico.
Insider Info
The Buttonwood Park Zoo is home to four species of sea stars; fancy brittle sea star, blue sea star, Forbes’ sea star, and northern sea star.
Species
Forbes’ Sea Star
Scientific name
Asterias forbesi
Habitat
Intertidal and coastal zones
Diet
Carnivorous, mostly consuming bivalve mollusks (mussels, clams, oysters)
lifespan
Up to 35 years
Did you know?
Sea stars have one eye at the tip of each arm. They can completely regenerate as long as they have one fifth of the central disk and one arm.
Range
Atlantic Ocean on the North American Coast from the Gulf of Maine to the Gulf of Mexico
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
