Top 8 Starfish Species Identification in Florida

Starfish, or “sea stars,” grace the oceans beautifully. They have over 2000 species worldwide, and Florida’s waters are rich with hundreds of starfish.  Each adds a unique touch, from the classic 5-armed Atlantic Sea Star to the colorful Comet Star. Starfish species identification helps scientists understand how they live, eat, and even keep the ocean healthy. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the most beautiful 8 types of starfish in Florida, with pictures, details, and pathways, where to find starfish in Florida easily, and other spots packed with sea stars. 

 Being a marine biologist, I have deeply researched sea star species identification projects and concluded the best and most beautiful Florida sea stars that can be easily found. 

Florida Starfish Species List By Clain Blythe

Florida hosts a variety of sea star species, but being a marine biologist, I will choose 8 top species names in the list of my choice below:

1. Nine-Armed Sea Star

2. Common Comet Star

3. Forbes Sea Star

4. Gray Sea Star 

5. Red Cushion Starfish

6. Orange Ridged Sea Star

7. Conical Spined Sea Star

8. Two-spined sea Star, 

1. Nine Armed Starfish [9 Armed Sea Star] + Starfish Species Identification Tips

Scientific Name

Luidia senegalensis 

Family Tree

Animalia

 (Kingdom) > Echinodermata (Phylum) > Asteroidea (Class) > Paxillosida (Order) > Luidiidae (Family) > Luidia (Genus) > senegalensis (Species)

 Initial Determination

(Lamarck,) 1816

1. Nine-armed or 9-arm starfish have 09 slim tapering arms attached to small circular discs. 

2. Their bodies are upper side colors ranging from bluish-grey to purple. 

3. While the lower areas of their bodies (where their tiny feet are present) exhibit orange hue colour. 

These beautiful sea stars can grow to a diameter of 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) in length. 

Size

They are covered with small spines. The skin texture is smoother than that of red cushion sea stars.

 Excretion

They lack anus, which is usually present on the upper side of their body.

 They expel the undigested food particles via their mouth at the center of their oral side. 

Difficulty

Not suitable for aquarium keeping.

Occurrence? Besides Florida

They are found at depths of up to 40 meters (130 ft) along the coasts of Florida,

> The Caribbean Sea

> The Gulf of Mexico, along the coast of South America to southern Brazil.

Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Senegal, South Atlantic, The Bahamas, USA, Venezuela. 

They like sandy, muddy, wet, or shelly seabeds in sheltered locations such as lagoons. 

Food? What Do 9-arm Starfish Eat?

1. They are scavengers and predators, eating mollusks, small crustaceans, and polychaete worms.

2. They can swallow whole food items by turning their stomach inside out and engulfing their prey whole while the digestive process is slow.

3. One beautiful fact about them is that they bury themselves in the substrate, take sediments, and filter them through oral spines, extracting detritus and small organisms such as brittle stars.

How Do Sea Stars In Florida Reproduce (Breeding)?

Their breeding occurs at different times of the year in different parts of their range. 

The sea stars release gametes into the sea, where fertilization takes place. 

When females hatch eggs, they become bipinnaria larvae that float around with the plankton. 

In about 25 days, The 9 armed starfish grow and move to the seabed before metamorphosis into juvenile sea stars. We know species like the Nine-Arm Sea Star primarily feed on small organisms in the sand, other starfish, like the notorious Crown of Thorns Starfish, have a very different diet. They consume large amounts of coral, raising concerns about their impact on reef ecosystems. To learn more about their feeding habits, check out What Do Crown of Thorns Starfish Eat?.

Scientific papers.

 1.Concentrations of metals in Luidia clathrata and Luidia senegalensis (echinodermata: asteroidea) in tampa bay and the nearshore gulf of mexico, florida, John M. Lawrence; William D. Mahon; Walter Avery; Michael Lares, 1993.

Luidia senegalensis wikipedia Abgerufen am 07.08.2020.

WoRMS taxon details Luidia senegalensis (Lamarck, 1816)

Abgerufen am 07.08.2020.

2. Common Comet Star (Linckia guildingi)

The common comet star, or Guilding’s sea star or the green Linckia, is a species of echinoderm belonging to the family Ophidiasteridae.

Habitat

 These starfish are typically found in shallow waters, usually around 3.2 feet (1 meter) deep, but have been recorded at depths of up to 100 meters. 

Their range is in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea.

Features

Body

L. guildingi has a small disk and typically five long, cylindrical arms (although they can have 4-6).

Coloration

Their colors vary, including green, brown, blue, violet, and red.

Size: They can grow up to 16 inches (40 cm) in diameter.

Habitat Preferences

These starfish prefer hard, flat-bottomed coral reefs but can also be found in sandy areas.

Distribution

The common comet star is found along the east coast of the Americas from Florida to Brazil, the Caribbean Sea, Australia, and other parts of tropical shallow waters.

They are called comet stars due to their resemblance to a comet, primarily because one arm is often larger than the others due to asexual reproduction.

Name Origin

Reproduction

Starfish, including the common comet star, can reproduce asexually through body fission or autotomy. 

However, comet starfish are unique in their ability to shed one or two arms along with part of the central disc through autotomy, essentially regenerating an entirely new individual. 

This process is slow, taking six months for the madreporite (a key organ) to appear and ten months for the new star to become fully functional, with regrown arms reaching 10 mm (0.4 inches) in length.

Limb Regeneration

Interestingly, all starfish can regenerate limbs, but the comet star’s ability to regenerate an entire individual through autotomy sets it apart. 

Sexual Reproduction

Common comet stars can reproduce sexually; males and females release sperm and eggs, respectively.

Diet

These starfish can evert their stomachs, pushing them outside their bodies.

 Instead of ingesting food and breaking it down internally, they secrete digestive enzymes onto the food externally, pre-digesting it before consumption. 

They feed on algae, bacteria, and dead sea creatures.

3. Forbes Sea Star

The Forbes sea star, or common sea star, is a species of starfish family called Asteriidae. They are found in shallow waters in the northwest Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, typically in intertidal and rocky areas.

Physical Description

1. Usually has 5 arms, but can have 4 or 6
2. Their body upper surface is covered in blunt conical spines, making it a rough texture.
3. Some of the spines are pedicellariae, which are tiny pincers that can grasp objects
4. The skeleton is made of ossicles (plates) bound together by connective tissue, allowing for movement
5. The mouth is on the underside (oral side)
6. Anus is on the topside (aboral side)
7. Grows to about 15 cm (5.9 inches) in diameter with arms up to 6 cm (2.4 inches) long
8. Madreporite is a pink, sieve-like structure located near the edge of the disc, involved in water regulation.

Reproduction

1. Sea stars have separate sexes
2. Gonads are located in each arm on the underside
3. Fertilization is external, with sperm and eggs released into the water
4. A single female can release up to 2.5 million eggs

Interestingly, when one female releases her eggs, it can trigger other females to do the same, followed by the males releasing their sperm

5. Eggs then developed into new bipinnaria larvae creatures, which are free-swimming and bilaterally symmetrical.
6. Larvae survive for about 3 weeks before settling to the bottom and undergoing metamorphosis
7. Their lifespan is around 35 years

Diet

• Feeds on mollusks, such as clams, oysters, and mussels

It can open shells using its tube feet to grab the two halves and pull them apart.

• Inserts its stomach into the shell and secretes enzymes to digest the mollusk’s body. 

Habitat

• Found in intertidal zones and rocky areas along the Atlantic coast of North America and the Gulf of Mexico

  Rocks protect from waves and predators

Also found in subtidal zones, down to depths of about 100 meters

Can bear various water temperatures and salinities.

Economic Importance

While not directly commercially important, Forbes sea stars maintain marine ecosystems’ health by controlling prey species populations.

People like to keep them in aquariums because they’re popular. 

Also, sometimes, they’re used in schools and labs to teach.

Forbes sea stars are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

They are susceptible to sea star wasting disease, which has caused significant population declines in recent years.

Climate change is also a threat to Forbes sea stars, as rising water temperatures can make them more susceptible to disease.

4. Gray Sea Star

Scientific Name

Luidia clathrata

Family

Luidiidae

Common Names

Gray sea star, slender-armed sea star

Description

1. Large starfish can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter

Small disc in the center

Five large, flattened arms (as the name suggests)

Color predominantly gray, but can also be light brown

Oral side pale yellow to light orange.

The upper side of the arms has a characteristic central row of dark gray or black plates (ossicles)

Habitat

Sandy or muddy seabeds, at depths up to 130 feet (40 meters)

Uses color for camouflage

Movement

Tube feet located in longitudinal rows, lacking suckers but having two swollen regions.

The mouth is located in the center of the underside.

Feeding

1. Can evert the esophagus and cardiac stomach to capture prey.
2. Gonopores located on each arm
3. Regenerates lost arms or parts of arms.
4. Seals off damaged areas

Feeds on

Gastropods and bivalve molluscs

Nematodes, ostracods, small crustaceans

Detritus (sometimes by everting its stomach.

Behavior

Photosensitive, spends daylight hours buried in sediment

Distribution

Western Atlantic Ocean, including:

Florida (Tampa Bay)

Virginia

South to Brazil

Gulf of Mexico

Caribbean Sea

 5. Red Cushion Sea Star or Bahama (My Personal Favorite in Starfish Species List)

Scientific Name

Oreaster reticulatus

Family

Oreasteridae

Common Names

Red cushion sea star, West Indian sea star Common Names: Red cushion sea star, West Indian sea star

Description

Largest sea star in the Oreasteridae family, growing up to 50 cm (20 in) in diameter.

The body is flattened and thickened, resembling a pillow due to inflated tissue.

Usually has 5 short, broad arms attached to a wide central disc.

Occasional specimens have 4, 6, or 7 arms.

Color varies from red to orange-brown, with a network-like pattern of darker shades.

Covered in short, blunt spines, slightly lighter or darker than the base color.

Habitat

Found on sandy bottoms, seagrass meadows, or coral rubble at depths up to 37 m (121 ft).

Slow movers, averaging 0.33 meters per minute.

Juvenile Starfish

Greenish-brown in color, camouflaging themselves in seagrass or meadows.

Geographic Distribution

The western central Atlantic Ocean’s shallow waters include the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, Cape Frio, Hatteras, Guianas, and most Caribbean locations.

Migrate to offshore areas with less water movement during winter.

Diet

Omnivores feed on sediment, epiphytic algae, sponges, and small crustaceans.

Engulf food by extending their cardiac stomach outside the mouth, retracting it after Digestion.

Reproduction

1. Separate sexes.

2. Breed in summer in subtropical areas and year-round in tropical areas.

3. Large aggregations form during the breeding season.

4. Fertilization occurs externally, with larvae drifting as part of the zooplankton.

5. After development, they settle on the seabed and undergo metamorphosis into juvenile starfish within seagrass beds.

Harvesting in Florida

 Illegal in some areas, including Florida.

6. Orange-Ridged Sea Star

Scientific Name

Echinaster spinulosus

Other common name: Orange Sea Star

Description

Color

Maroon or brown, flecked with white.

Body wall

Composed of collagen fibers. I have personally examined their body in Biscayne Bay, Florida, during a 2015 research-based project.

Tube feet

Bright orange to reddish, with suction cups at the ends.

Arms

Five, long, and round, attached to the central disc.

Spines

hort and blunt, giving the body a coarse texture.

Eyespots are present at the tips of the arms, brighter than the rest of the body.

Size: Medium, growing up to 6 inches (150mm) in diameter.

Habitat

Sandy bottoms

Seagrass meadows (Zostera spp.)

Oyster beds

Stony flats and pilings

Depths between 33 and 66 feet (10 to 20 meters)

Diet

Predator and scavenger

Feeds on sessile invertebrates such as sponges, tunicates, and small microbes.

Also consumes common detritus (organic matter)

Important Notes

1. In reef aquariums, larger specimens can harm clams, sponges, and small anemones.

2. They are sensitive to sudden changes in oxygen levels, salinity, pH, and copper-based medications.

You can read about how starfish breathe? Just read my other blog Starfish Breathing Secrets (Biologically Explained)

 also Spotted in Shallows of the western Atlantic: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Venezuela

Caribbean Sea

Gulf of Mexic

7. Conical Spined Sea Star

Scientific Name

Echinaster sentus

Common Names

 Common Florida starfish, Thorny starfish, Spiny sea star

Description

1. Five long, slightly tapered arms having rounded tips 
2. Covered in large, distinctive conical spines
3. Color ranges from deep red to reddish brown
4. Remarkable ability to regenerate lost limbs

May have parasitic limpets attached to the underside of arms, causing deformation

Movement

1. Possesses a network of hydraulic tube feet connected to a water-vascular system
2. Tube feet extend radially down each arm, allowing for movement and feeding

Feeding

1. Carnivores feed on mollusks, worms, residue, and even other starfish.
2. The mouth is located on the underside, but digestive enzymes are ejected to engulf prey externally.

Anatomy

1. Typically has five arms, but individuals with four or six can be found

Appearance

1. Spines are typically orange-brown, but some species have dark purple spines which help marine biologists in starfish species identification research.
2. Found in warm, shallow waters up to 50 feet (15 meters) deep
3. Inhabits sandy sea floors, seagrass meadows, mangroves, or rocky shores

Habitat

Primarily found in the beautiful mangroves of Florida Bay

Also found in the Caribbean Sea and along the coast of Belize.

8. Two-Spined Sea Star

Scientific Name

Astropecten duplicates

Family

Astropectinidae

Class

Asteroidea

Description

Five long, slender, and tapering arms, flattened top to bottom (dorsolaterally).

The upper surface of the arms has a single row of distinctive white marginal plates.

Grows to about 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter.

Color ranges from pale gray or greenish-brown to reddish brown

The underside (oral surface) is pale brown or orange.

Interestingly, lacks suckers at the end of its tube feet.

Diet

Carnivores hunt bivalve mollusks and gastropods at night

Uses its arms to transfer prey to its mouth and swallow it whole

Regurgitates undigested food fragments.

Habitat:

Lives on sandy seafloor and seagrass bottoms at depths up to 1,600 feet (500 meters).

Reproduction

Members of the class Asteroidea reproduce both asexually (regeneration and cloning) and sexually (gonochoric)

Embryos hatch into planktonic larvae and later metamorphose into five-pointed (pentamerous) juveniles with stubby arms.

Distribution

Found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea

Specific locations include Cape Hatteras, Cuba, Bahamas, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana.

Where Can You See Sea Stars in Florida?

If you are looking and thinking about where I can find starfish in Florida, there is good news for you:

 Don Pedro Island State Park

 is a place to see a sea star colony in its natural habitat.

Accessible only by boat, the park offers a hidden area that can be reached by paddleboard or kayak.

Explore the mangrove tunnel leading to a secluded lagoon within the island. Within this tunnel lies a path that brings you to the sea star colony.

Other locations for spotting sea stars include 

Stump Pass Beach, State Park

 Boca Grande

For optimal visibility, visit these areas during mid to low tide. The water depth at these times may require local guidance for navigation. 

Where Can You Find Starfish In Florida?

Starfish thrive in Florida thanks to its ideal conditions. These echinoderms inhabit diverse environments like rocky shores, tropical coral reefs, tidal pools, mudflats, sandy seafloors, and seagrass meadows, and Florida offers them all, marine biologists often visit these spots to get help themselves in research of starfish species identification projects.

 Many tropical species prefer warm, shallow, shallow waters, making Florida a paradise.

Florida Starfish Species Identification & Classification?

Florida boasts over 80 species of starfish, also known as sea stars.

These spiny wonders belong to the Asteroidea class, part of the Echinodermata phylum, alongside sea urchins and sand dollars.

Scientists group Florida’s starfish into different orders based on their unique traits. 

The most common are:

Forcipulatida

These have tiny “forceps” (pedicellariae) to grasp prey and defend themselves.

 Think of the Atlantic Sea Star with its reddish-orange hue.

Spinulosida

Spines rule for these starfish? The Thorny Sea Star, with its spiky arms, is a prime example.

Valvatida: Move over, legs; these starfish use tube feet to scoot around, like the Chocolate Chip Starfish with its bumpy, brown body

10 Poisonous Starfish in Florida?

There are no truly poisonous starfish in Florida, but there are examples of starfish species that possess venomous spines or can cause skin irritation.

 If you are engaged in starfish species identification projects, Be cautious when handling any starfish; even a mild skin reaction can be unpleasant. Here are some of the starfish species in Florida that you should be aware of:

Thorny starfish have long, sharp spines that can pierce the skin and cause irritation.

Atlantic cushion starfish

This starfish possesses small, venomous tube feet that can cause a burning sensation if they come into contact with skin.

This starfish’s spines contain a mild toxin that can cause redness, swelling, and itching if they come into contact with skin.

If you are concerned about being stung by a starfish, it is best to avoid handling them altogether.

 If you must handle a starfish, wear gloves and be careful not to touch your face or eyes. If you are stung, wash the affected area with soap and water and seek medical attention if necessary.

Endangered Starfish Species Name of Florida?

Florida has no starfish species officially listed as “endangered” under the US Endangered Species Act; several face conservation concerns.

 The Bahama Starfish (Oreaster reticulatus), also known as the Cushion Starfish, is commercially prohibited in Florida due to population.

For more specific information on starfish conservation in Florida, you can check out these resources:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

What Color Are Starfish? And Other General Characteristics? 

Starfish come in a rainbow of colors like orange, red, blue, gray, and even purple! It depends on the kind of starfish and where it lives.

Some colorful examples of starfish

include: 1. Amethyst Cushion Star: Deep purple, almost like a jewel

2. Blood Star

 Scarlet red, resembling spilled blood

3. Harlequin Sea Star: Orange, purple, and white patterns like a circus costume

4. Chocolate Chip Starfish: Tan with dark brown, speckled markings

5. Vermilion Sea Star: Bright, fire-engine red

5. Peach Sea Star: Soft, delicate shade of pink, like a ripe peach

The Science Behind Starfish Colors?

Starfish have tiny tubes called chromatophores in their bodies, where they store special chemicals like carotenoids, which give off reds, oranges, and yellows, and linckiacyanin, which creates cool blues.

Interestingly, these chemicals often come from the starfish’s diet what they eat. So, what the starfish eats helps determine the colors it displays. 

It’s like painting with their food’s colors, making them beautiful and uniquely connected to their environment.

General Characteristics

1. Starfish and sea urchins belong to the Echinodermata group. “echo” means spine, and “derm” means skin in Greek.

 Starfish or sea stars are not members of the fish family but belong to the class Asteroidea.

Body Shape

 five stars?

Starfish have a central disc-like shape with five arms; some species can have more or fewer arms.

The upper surface is called the aboral surface, covered with overlapping plates, smooth, granular, or spiny. 

The mouth is located on the underside, called the oral surface.

The upper surface of the body is called the aboral surface, which is spiny, smooth, and colored due to overlapping plates.

 The underlying called the oral surface where its mouth is also present.

Anatomical Structure

1. They have three layers of tissue, are usually symmetrical on both sides and have a coelom body cavity. Their water vascular system and tube feet help them move around.

Are starfish Brainless? 

Starfish don’t possess a centralized nervous system or brains. They have ganglia, a cluster of nerve cells that help in the coordination of various functions.

 Each ganglia is responsible for the coordination of specific functions.

Radial Ganglia

Present at the base of each arm and coordinate in movement and sensory information from that arm.

Circumoral Nerve Ring

encircles the mouth and coordinates feeding and digestive activities.

Echinus Nerve Ring

Situated on the starfish’s aboral (upper) surface, it contributes to overall body coordination and light sensitivity.

How Does it Work?

Ganglaia communicate with each other with the help of sensory cells in the whole body, helping starfish to respond to stimuli, move, and perform their activities.

Starfish Blood? ( Is It Red Blood)

No, starfish do not have red blood like humans or other vertebrates. They don’t have blood at all. Instead, they use a different system to circulate nutrients and gases throughout their bodies.

Starfish belong to the echinoderm species, which includes sea stars, sea urchins, and sand dollars. This group of animals has unique anatomical features different from vertebrates.

Instead of blood, starfish utilize seawater a network of canals and tubes called the water vascular system pumps seawater throughout their bodies.

 This seawater carries oxygen, nutrients, and waste products. The tube feet, used for movement and feeding, are also part of this system.

Starfish Excretion ( What They Excrete?) 

starfish zoology helps us to understand how sea stars excrete nitrogenous waste (ammonia) through a diffusion process across their body surface, particularly through their tube feet and papulae. 

Small structures also aid in respiration and gas exchange.

Tube feet (multi-processing feet)

Starfish have hundreds of tiny tube feet on the underside of their arms. A hydraulic system processes these small tube feet and has suckera on the end that helps them in locomotion and eating food.

Starfish food? ( Do starfish Fart?)

Starfish eat everything they find, including mollusks(clams, mussels, oysters, etc.)

 crabs, shrimp, barnacles, polychaete worms, flatworms,  and some species filter feed on microscopic organisms and organic matter decomposing in the water.

How Does Digestion Work?

Starfish have a relatively simple digestive system, having a single opening that functions as both a mouth and an anus.

1. Prey is captured by using its tube feet structures on its enzymes, and chemicals are released to break down externally into tiny pieces.

These tiny pieces then move into their mouth and the cardiac stomach, where further digestion occurs.

Interestingly, the undigested materials and waste are expelled through the same opening.

Do Starfish Fart?

No! Starfish don’t fart in the same way as humans do.

Why? Reasons 

Starfish lack a complex digestive system like a colon, where gas build-up occurs. Their body structure does not allow for gas accumulation in large gas. Thus, they don’t fart.

Starfish Reproduction (Do They lay Eggs)? 

Starfish reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction involves the release of eggs and sperm into the water, where fertilization takes place.

 Asexual reproduction can occur through fragmentation, where a starfish splits in two, or budding, where a new starfish grows from an existing one.

Starfish Regeneration ( Second life Chance)

Regeneration is like a superpower they have. If a starfish loses an arm or even part of its central disk, it can grow back because starfish have special cells called stem cells that can turn into any other type of cell needed. 

So, when they’re injured, these stem cells kick in and start rebuilding whatever was lost. It’s like nature’s way of giving them a second chance.

FAQs( Frequently Asked Questions )

Is the 9-legged starfish is a poisonous starfish in Florida?

No! The 9-legged sea star in Florida, the nine-armed sea star, isn’t poisonous. While some starfish have spines, they mostly poke, not poison. This cool creature uses its many arms to catch clams and snails, not harm humans.

Are rare starfish species available in Florida?

Rare starfish species in Florida include

Atlantic thorny starfish, Bizarre sun starfish, Graceful Atlantic sea star, Chocolate chip starfish, and Atlantic cushion starfish.

Is Florida starfish identification difficult for marine biologists?

Identifying Florida starfish species is challenging but not impossible for experienced biologists. Familiarity with species and access to resources help.

 However, Florida’s diverse starfish species and hidden identifying features make it difficult. Careful observation and specialized tools are often necessary for accurate identification.

Conclusion

Starfish Species Identification in Florida helps us understand their ocean roles. With over 80 types, like the Atlantic Sea Star and Comet Star, each supports the ecosystem. Scientists study starfish behaviors and habitats. Spots like Don Pedro Island and Stump Pass Beach are ideal for seeing them. Some starfish face danger from habitat damage. Protecting them is key for ocean health and future generations.