Common Sunstar
Crossaster papposus
Habitat: Low shore, kelp forest and rocky reef
Depth: 10-40m
Food: Other starfish and sea cucumbers
Size: Up to 35cm across
Lifespan: Unknown
Conservation Status: Data Deficient (DD)
Sunstars are brightly coloured and have between 9 and 13 arms. The arms have hundreds of suckered tube feet on the underside to help them cling to rocks and move about. Sunstars are greedy predators and will eat other starfish. The attacker will hold onto its prey with its tube feet then turn out its stomach and release digestive juices to dissolve the victim’s flesh.