Echinoderm

Bat star

Patiria miniata

Kelp forests and rocky coastal habitats

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

Habitat: Kelp forests and rocky coastal habitats
Published depth range: Intertidal to 290 m
Viewing activities: Beach / tidepool · Scuba diving

What to look for

Short, broad arms give the body a webbed, bat-like outline.

What it eats

Scavenges plant and animal material and consumes living prey.

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.

Learn more about this species

Sea Star, Brittle Star, or Basket Star? Follow the Arms

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Bat 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 · 62274 source records since 2016About this destination →La JollaCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 2466 source records since 2016About this destination →Monterey BayCalifornia, United StatesRegional rectangle · 71234 source records since 2016About this destination →

Sources, search boundaries and limitations