Sea star ID please. (VIDEO)

[Michael Milligan]

Hi!

This is my new sea star. I collected it here in Vancouver. I can't find any good way to ID this thing online.

Anyone recognize this guy/girl/it?

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[Dave66]

It looks like a temperate Linkia species, but I'm too unfamiliar with temperate species to put a positive ID on it, as my expertise is tropical species. I say Linkia by the length and dexterity of its arms.

Dave

[Michael Milligan]

Thank!

I'm pretty sure it is a Evasterias troschelii. "Mottled Seastar".

[Dave66]

I believe you're correct, since I looked at several specimens of varied sizes after checking your ID for it. I also looked it up in one of my books. It does get pretty big I'm sure you know. Have you fed it yet? Looks like a healthy specimen.

Dave

[Michael Milligan]

I haven't "feed" it exactly. I'm sure it had helped itself to a barnacle or a mussel :)

Both my sea stars are into shell fish. I hope that if I feed them large mussels they will leave my barnacles alone, but I doubt it.