Dermasterias imbricata (leather star)
This sea-star has
slightly webbed rays resembling that of the Patiria
miniata. Commonly found with 5 rays up to 12 cm in length, the
leather star has a smooth, slippery skin that feels like wet leather. Its
body color is blue-gray mottled with red or orange. It possesses a large,
high disk at the center of the body and the tips of its arm are frequently
upturned. The odor the leather star produces reminds many of the scent
of strong garlic.
Patiria miniata (bat star or sea bat)
This stubby sea-star has usually 5 (sometimes 4-9) arms
which measure up to 10 cm that resemble short webbed rays, which account
for its common name. It varies in color from purple to red to yellow, and
may be mottled or plain. Commonly found on or under rocks overgrown with
surf-grass or algae, it can also be found attached to the sides of concrete
harbor walls.
Pisaster ochraceus (ochre or common sea-star)
This abundant organism is
a strong predator of shellfish in the marine community. Its arms extend
up to 28 cm in length, 
but
normally measure about half this size. This sea-star usually has 5 stout,
tapering arms (rays), but sometimes 4-7 rays may be present. Its body color
varies from purple, brown, orange, or yellow with small white spines forming
a net-like pattern.
Pycnopodia helianthoides
(sunflower sea-star)
This
large and active sea-star is approximately two feet in diameter, including
the length of its arms. It has between 15 to 24 flexible to limp arms and
a soft delicate skin. Often a colorful pink to purple in color, the sunflower
sea-star is a very unquie species, starting with 6 arms as a juevenile
and growsing the remainder in adult form.
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (red sea urchin)
This species of
urchin is much larger than Strongylocentrotus
purpuratus. Its shell diameter often measures more than 10 cm,
with an additional 5 cm in length when its bristling spines are accounted
for. Urchins look like a circular porcupine, except for their brick-red
or purple color and comparative lack of movement. These urchins have tiny
pincer-like structures (pedicellariae) containing poison glands that are
used to ward off the attack of predators, such as the sea-star.
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (purple sea urchin)
These individuals
are vividly purple in color, sometimes containing a hint of green. Its
spines are shorter and blunter than that of the Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. Its shell diameter measures up to 10 cm, not including the length
of the spines. This urchin is found in burrows or depressions on tidepool
rocks or under seaweed in areas where there is strong wave action. Similar
to its cousin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, it feeds on a variety
of brown and red algae, in particular the kelp Macrocystis.
