These nickel-sized seastars hide beneath rocks during the day and forage at night for small invertebrates such as the margin snail Granulina. Females brood dozens of externally fertilizated eggs beneath their tube feet. Development is direct.
Leptasterias aequalis (Stimpson, 1862) Common Names: Colorful six-rayed star, six-rayed Star, broad six-rayed star, delicate six-armed star Leptasterias aequalis from lower intertidal of Sares Head, 6-2011. Total arm spread 4 cm. Photo by: Dave Cowles, June 2011
Leptasterias hexactis (Stimpson, 1862) Six-rayed Star Top view of individual collected at Sares Head, WA in the lower intertidal zone. Diameter approximately 3 cm. Photo by: Dave Cowles, Sept 2005