Purple+Sea+Star

=Purple Sea Star =

__Description of Habitat:__ This organism occurs on wave-washed rocky shores. The juveniles are often found in crevices and under rocks.
==__Living Requirements:__ P. ochraceus occurs in the low and middle intertidal zones, and sometimes in the subtidal zone (to 88 m). They feed mainly on mussels or will also feed on barnacles, snails, limpets, and chitons when mussels are absent. == ==__ Life Cycle:__ Sexual reproduction occurs in the late spring or in the early summer. When ready to reproduce, mature gonads may account for up to 40 percent of the animal's weight. Spawning occurs in the Puget Sound around May to July. Fertilization occurs in the sea and development results in free-swimming, plankton-feeding larvae. Embryonic development and larval feeding have been studied in detail, however little is known of juvenile life following settlement and metamorphosis == ==__Male/Female Differences: __They are not distinguishable from the outside. Only a slight difference in color tone. == ==__Interesting Facts:__ P. ochraceus is more tolerant to air exposure than others in the Pisaster genus and regularly withstands up to 8 hours exposure during low tides. When eating, the sea star may turn its stomach inside out to reach into the shell of its prey. ==

__Zookeeper Rachel's Resources: __
==[|http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/biology/rosario/inverts/Echinodermata/] == ==[|Class%20Asteroidea/][|Pisaster_ochraceus.html] ==