Lined Sea Star

Luidia clathrata

Markings and exact colorations may vary.

A five-armed sea star with long narrow arms, each with a dark stripe down the centre.

Typical size
4–8 in
How often it turns up
Common
Collecting
Check local rules

This is a living animal. Photograph it and leave it where you found it, or ease it back into the water.

Handling
Photograph and release

How to tell it apart

  • Five long, narrow, straight arms
  • Dark grey stripe down the centre of each arm
  • Fringed arm edges

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.

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

  • Beaded Sea StarAstropecten articulatus

    Lined sea star has long arms with a dark centre stripe; beaded sea star is stiffer with orange bead-like edges.

  • Nine-armed Sea StarLuidia senegalensis

    Lined sea star has five arms; the nine-armed sea star usually has nine.

More tidepool life in the field guide

Browse every tidepool life in the guide

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