Pink Starfish

Pink Starfish

The pink star can reach a diameter of two feet while weighing up to two pounds, and has spines less than 2 mm long. It has a soft, flabby texture that allows it to bend slightly to stay on coral.

Pisaster brevispinus is usually found on sand or mud where it catches its prey such as clams or sand dollars. Smaller individuals are sometimes seen on rocks or pilings where they prey on mussels, barnacles, and tube worms. This species is also known to scavenge on dead fish and squid. The giant pink sea star does not tolerate being out of water very well, so it is generally found on the beach only during very low tides. It usually lives at a depth of 180 metres (590 ft).

This is the underside of a pretty pink starfish up against the glass in a tank at the Cairns aquarium.

Copyright
David Clode
Location
Cairns Aquarium, Cairns City, Australia
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