Nine-armed Sea Star
Luidia senegalensis
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A large, flat sea star with nine slender arms, common on Gulf sand flats.
- Typical size
- 6–14 in across
- How often it turns up
- Fairly common
- Collecting
- Check local rules
- Handling
- Photograph and release
Photograph living animals and leave them in place. Live take may be regulated by license, location or harvest method; parks and protected areas can prohibit removal.
How to tell it apart
- Nine long, narrow arms
- Grey-brown with a bristly edge
- Flexible and floppy, not rigid
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.
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Commonly confused with
Lined Sea StarLuidia clathrata
Lined sea star has five arms; the nine-armed sea star usually has nine.
More tidepool life in the field guide
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