The Purple Sun star (Solaster
endeca), also known as the Northern Sun Star or Smooth Sun Star is one of
the few sea stars to have more than 5 legs. It may have anywhere from 7 to 14
arms, which gives it its ‘sun’ like appearance.
The colour of this sun star ranges from pale yellow to purple and even
red although the purple colour seems to be most common in this area. It is a larger sea star and may be up to 40
cm across. It is found mainly in the
subtidal zone and up to depths of 320 meters or more but very rarely, it may be
found in the low intertidal area. This
species of sea star feeds mainly on sea cucumbers, other sea stars, molluscs
and sea urchins.
A Purple Sun Star under examination in the lab.
This one was pulled up in the scallop drag aboard the Fundy Spray.
Two vastly different-sized sun stars.
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