Learn about: Pisaster ochraceus (Purple Star)!

Artwork by Joshua Venturo

Pisaster ochraceus is a sea star with five arms. These arms can grow up to 10 in. long. Its color ranges from yellow to reddish-purple.

The purple sea star can attach itself to a rock whenever waves threaten to carry it away. It uses its tube feet to accomplish this, and these feet also aid in prying California mussels open, the sea star’s favorite food. It also eats chitons, limpets, snails, and barnacles.

The purple sea star has another way to eat. It can insert its digestive organs into the shell of its prey and digest the flesh outside of itself! It eats about 80 mussels a year.

We found a lot of purple sea stars when we were in Washington. We learned that they love tiny cracks. We also learned, when trying to pry one off, how strong tube feet are!

Did you know that nobody can pry you out of God’s hand? If you are a Christian, it’s like you are safe in God’s hand. John 10:29 says (Jesus speaking), “My Father, Who has given them [Christians] to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Information from Wikipedia

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