Echinoderm

Pacific blood star

Henricia leviuscula

Rocky intertidal shores and underwater rock or broken-shell habitat

Photo: (c) Rajan Rao, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Rocky intertidal shores and underwater rock or broken-shell habitat
Published depth range: Low intertidal to 671 m in the cited account; identification is complex
Viewing activities: Beach / tidepool · Scuba diving

What to look for

Usually five slender arms around a small central disk; often orange.

What it eats

Sponges and small particles trapped in mucus.

Identification and naming

The university account warns that this name may encompass multiple similar species. Deep records and photographs need careful identification.

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 Pacific blood 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 · 4891 source records since 2016About this destination →La JollaCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 29 source records since 2016About this destination →Monterey BayCalifornia, United StatesRegional rectangle · 33071 source records since 2016About this destination →

Sources, search boundaries and limitations