- This video is meant to be a short introduction to these amazing creatures.
- To discover some of the variety that occur here and interesting things about them look at Intertidal — Common Sea Life of Southeastern Alaska a field guide by Aaron Baldwin & Paul Norwood
- From their book: Nearly everyone is familiar with the group of echinoderms known as sea stars (the common name starfish is falling into disuse). Sea stars are common on most beaches, and Alaska has an amazing diversity of these fascinating creatures. A number of our common species are extremely variable in color so one will frequently see groups with individuals that are purple, yellow, brown, orange, or many other colors.
- The incredable way they move also from their book: The relatively simple shape of sea stars belies a complex set of features that make these animals so successful. If you turn a sea star over and examine the underside (called the oral surface) you will notice that each arm has groove called the ambulacral groove which contains the tube feet. By pumping water in or out of these the sea star can exercise amazing control over these, enabling them to walk, pry open bivalves, even dig holes.
- Look at this essay by Mary Willson on Sunflower Sea Stars
