Beaded Sea Star
Astropecten articulatus
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A stiff five-armed sea star edged with neat orange bead-like plates around a purple top.
- Typical size
- 3–5 in
- How often it turns up
- Uncommon
- Collecting
- Check local rules
- Handling
- Photograph and release
This is a living animal. Photograph it and leave it where you found it, or ease it back into the water.
How to tell it apart
- Five stiff, pointed arms
- Edges lined with bead-like orange plates
- Purple to violet centre and arm tops
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for tidepool life. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Bathtub Reef Beach · Stuart
- Anne's Beach · Islamorada
- Bahia Honda State Park · Big Pine Key
- Bathtub Beach · Stuart
- Caspersen Beach · Venice
- Curry Hammock State Park · Marathon
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park · Key West
- Harry Harris Park · Tavernier
- Higgs Beach · Key West
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park · Key Largo
- Long Key State Park · Long Key
- Marineland Beach · Marineland
Found one?
Photograph it and BeachNut ranks the likely matches with a confidence read, then logs it to your collection with the beach and date.
Browsing beaches and the full field guide is free. A free account logs unlimited finds and gives you three photo identifications a day.
Commonly confused with
Lined Sea StarLuidia clathrata
Lined sea star has long arms with a dark centre stripe; beaded sea star is stiffer with orange bead-like edges.
More tidepool life in the field guide
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