Help with Sea Star ID

[coachrenz]

I think that I have an issue here.

I found this sea star at North Three Tree



The problem is that the one it most looks like in Lamb and Hanby's Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest I think is the Black-Spined Sea Star Lethasterias nanimensis. So, what is the issue? The issue is that Lamb and Hanby say that according to Phil Lambert a sea star expert, that this particular star has never been seen outside of Alaska.

I tried to find a way to contact this Phil Lambert person directly, but the link to his own website resulted in a page not found error.

Does anyone have a Sea Star specific book they can help me to ID this thing with?

Thanks

[John Rawlings]

Hi, Tim!

I just happen to have a copy of Philip Lambert's book, Sea Stars of British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and Puget Sound here on my bookshelf! GREAT book, by the way!

In looking up Lethasterias nanimensis in the book, I find that there is a caveat to the statement that it is found only in Southeast Alaska.....it seems that the type specimen was found off Nanaimo! That's how it originally came to be named L. nanimensis, after the location of its initial discovery at Nanaimo.

Lambert also mentions that a specimen was brought up by the steamer Albatros in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 1928. What he also DOES state is that, personally, "in 25 years of diving I have never seen this species in BC", only finding it in SE Alaska. This statement is what caused the confusion. Clearly, however, based on their personal experiences both Lambert in HIS book and Lamb and Hanby in THEIRS, consider both the Nanaimo and Juan de Fuca listings as "doubtful".

However.....I believe that all this is a moot point. I do NOT think that you have a photo of L. nanimensis. Instead, what I think you have here is a slightly different color variation of Pisaster brevispinus, the giant pink sea star. I've seen them from pure white to bright pink, with every shade in between.

Just my 2 cents worth.....

- John

[Jan K]

Hi Tim, I think I would agree with John, I too see Pisaster brevispinus variations in color matching yours here at Holmes Harbor, Whidbey Island

[nwscubamom]

Agreed with both - it's just a 'dirty' Spiny Pink Star. The shape is very different than that of Lethasterias nanimensis. The pronounced 'hump' is also a big clue that points towards a Spiny Pink Star.

L. nanimensis should have a yellow-brown background color, and the arms are much more of a consistent width, as well as very long in relation to the central disk. Spiny Pink has a very large humped central disk, and quite triangular shaped arms.

- Janna