Native SpeciesNorthern sea star

Asterias vulgaris
NOT FOUND by SuperStar
2011-08-12
Saco
ID Confirmed
Quality checked by Superstar
Peer reviewed by
Field Notes
Sea stars are everywhere! I found this one while working on a commercial fishing boat offshore. We were pulling a net behind the boat to catch fish, and when we were looking to see what kind of fish we caught, I uncovered this little beauty. This one looks different than other stars I see closer to shore. Anyone know what this one is? (Hint - its nickname starts with the letter H and sometimes I play a basketball game spelling out this word). My favorite part of being out on the fishing boat is seeing all the cool stuff that we catch in the net.
Supporting Evidence
Photo of my evidence.
This seastar was red-oragne in color. I know the color of sea stars can change a lot, but it looks different than the ones I find on the beach.
Photo of my evidence.
The shape of this star is different than the northern sea star. This one has shorter arms, and more webbing between the arms.
Photo of my evidence.
The texture of this star is also very different than the northern sea star. It is very hard and stiff. The top surface is covered in little bumps that have a crazy pattern when you look up close!
Species Observation: Species Looked For
Did you find it?: 
I think I did not find it
Scientific name:
Asterias vulgaris
Common name:
Northern sea star
Sampling method: 
Net
Photo of our sampling method.
Place Studied
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Map this species
Latitude: 
N 43.389082 °
Longitude: 
W -70.021362 °
Observation Site Information
A photo of our study site.
Habitat: 
Coastal - Rocky intertidal
Trip Information
Name:
Tanner's Ledge
Trip date: 
Fri, 2011-08-12 09:50
Town or city: 
Saco
Type of investigation: 
Species Survey
Ecosystem: 
Coastal
Watershed: 
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Maine
Time of low tide: 
Fri, 2011-08-12 05:38

Comments

Submitted by wonderWHY on Mon, 2011-10-24 21:18.

twirl around, underhanded, off the backboard

Looks like it's as big as a H-O-R-S-E star. Am I right?

Submitted by SuperStar on Tue, 2011-10-25 08:30.

swish

Nailed it! There is a sea of stars out there, I'm just trying to be a telescope.