Echinoderm

Leather star

Dermasterias imbricata

Partly sheltered rocky shores, with some records on sand or mud

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Photo: no rights reserved · CC0 · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Partly sheltered rocky shores, with some records on sand or mud
Published depth range: Intertidal to 90 m
Viewing activities: Beach / tidepool · Scuba diving

What to look for

A broad central disk with short, tapering arms and a smooth, reddish-brown and gray surface.

What it eats

Anemones and other bottom-dwelling animals.

Wider distribution

Sitka, Alaska, to Baja California.

When to look

The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Leather star been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-09-19. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

Channel IslandsCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 5176 source records since 2016About this destination →La JollaCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 17 source records since 2016About this destination →Monterey BayCalifornia, United StatesRegional rectangle · 32051 source records since 2016About this destination →

Sources, search boundaries and limitations