Star ID

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:41 am

Is this a Wrinkled Sea Star, Pteraster militaris or is it a Cushion Star, Pteraster tesselatus? I lean toward wrinkled but I'm not 100% sure. I haven't seen lots of these guys... found him at about 75fsw on Day Island Wall.
<a href="" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/121 ... d91103.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="CIMG8111"></a>

<a href="" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1021/121 ... 3caa38.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="CIMG8112"></a>

coachrenz · Post by **coachrenz** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:41 am

And I was hoping for some Hollywood celebrity. Dang it. It is just a Pteraster.

Where is the photo of our favorite celeb diver Jessica Alba?

I would lean towards Cushion, the arms seem pretty stubby. I had issues with a Cushion/Wrinkled that I saw at DIW as well.

I think I saw the same sea star and IDed it as the Slime/Cushion Pteraster tesselatus

sparky · Post by **sparky** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:11 pm

Ok Tom :

now mind you im no nwScubamom but I think you have a grate shot of a
Cushion Star.

thats what im calling the couple I have that look some thing like yours.

maybe Janna should have a speacial class just for us S.S.G
( Scuba Star Gazers )

Oh my goodness does this make me a scuba geek as well

Oh boy I hope so

Sparky

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:25 pm

Hey Sparky! Wassup down in Ore-gone???

I think your pic is a leather star!

Come on up and let's go divin'!

-Tom

sparky · Post by **sparky** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:34 pm

Tom Nic wrote:Hey Sparky! Wassup down in Ore-gone???

I think your pic is a leather star!

Come on up and let's go divin'!

-Tom

Oh sure now he tells me

things are grate down here got to get my butt in gear and head north soon huh

Sparky

coachrenz · Post by **coachrenz** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:37 pm

Yep, Sparky, that would be a Leather Star.

Tim

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:56 pm

Sparky, my good buddy... what you've found is a leather star. Leather star for SURE!!!

nwscubamom · Post by **nwscubamom** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:15 am

Pteraster tesselatus, aka Cushion Star or Slime Star!

(And yup, Sparky, your shot is a good ol' Leather Star!)

One way you can tell the difference between militaris and tesselatus, is that in tesselatus, the ends of the arms are upturned.

- Janna

PS: Great book to get is called: Sea Stars of BC, SE Alaska, and Puget Sound by Phil Lambert

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:28 am

nwscubamom wrote:One way you can tell the difference between militaris and tesselatus, is that in tesselatus, the ends of the arms are upturned.

PS: Great book to get is called: Sea Stars of BC, SE Alaska, and Puget Sound by Phil Lambert

Good visual cue! Thanks Janna!

And yet another book to get....

nwscubamom · Post by **nwscubamom** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:42 am

Ah Grasshopper - one can never have too many Marine life ID books!

- Janna the book hog...