Meet Our Animals > Leather Starfish
 
Quick Facts
Native to Tide pools and intertidal zones, from the coasts of Alaska to northern Mexico
Primary Diet Sea urchins, sea pens, sea cucumber, sponges, anemones, chitons, fish eggs

Leather Starfish

Leather starfish are also known as garlic stars because they excrete a garlic-like smell as a defense mechanism. They have sensors at the end of each of their five arms to detect prey – but unlike many other sea stars, leather starfish swallow their prey whole and digest it internally.

Photo provided by Shutterstock

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