What a beautiful and delicate marine animal. Striped Sea Stars are from the family of Echinoderms which include sea urchins and sand dollars. Echinoderms means animals with "Spiny Skin." Common in the waters surrounding Florida, Bahamas, Bermuda and everywhere from New Jersey to Brazil. They are common in less than 100 feet of water. They inhabit the sandy bottom of the ocean and the coral reefs.

Just like sand dollars and sea urchins, they also burrow into the sand but they will forage and look for food out in the open as well. The Striped Sea Star that we found was found on the beach in the Gulf of Mexico in Florida in the Tampa Bay area. It had 5 legs that can regenerate if the tip is broken or if a predator removes one of the legs.

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View A Photo Of The Top Of A Striped Sea Star
View A Photo Of The Bottom Of A Striped Sea Star
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As we studied this marine animal, it seemed that it stiffened up when it was placed in the water with stronger current or if waves continuously swept by. It became stiff and it did not have it's tube feet exposed underneath or it's mouth. The tips of the tube feet are pointed and they do not have suckers on them like sea urchins do. The disk-like mouth is located on it's underside in the center.

The Striped Sea Star was highly mobile and you could visibly see it move slowly by using it's tube feet located on the underside along each leg. The sea star's body and legs became soft when it was in water with less of a current and when it was not where the waves break. It is capable of detecting the metabolic chemicals produced by prey organisms.

It is a scavenger with moves along the sandy bottom of the ocean looking for pieces of fish, shrimp and crab. It can also open sea scallops, clams and sea snails and extract the tender meat inside. Sea stars/starfish need to be in the ocean/water to breath and survive. If left on the beach for too long and in the sun they can dry out and perish.

If you find one, please gently place them back in the ocean/water pass where the rough waves break. You may have to go out 3-6 feet and place them on the sandy bottom so they can safely burrow into the ocean floor. Also, sun tan lotions and oils are very harmful to live sea stars and all marine life, including dolphins and manatees.

Article Written By Dawn La Follette