Pisaster ochraceus (purple starfish)

Found in area 10.

At the Cove a purple starfish made its home in a large rock just south of the sandy area at the end of the boat ramp. Storms eventually tore the rock loose at the crack where the starfish concealed itself. For a long time the starfish in the rock, a nice deep purple one, was the only starfish available for viewing when the tide was out only part way. After the rock broke apart in the 1990’s the starfish left. It probably migrated to the south beach where there are many starfish. This starfish comes in a variety of colors: purple, orange, brown.