The sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), a beautifully colored species in bright orange, yellow, or purple hues, was the largest and fastest of the local sea stars, and with its 20+ rays (or ...

(Courtesy Reuven Bank) Typical coloring of sunflower stars in central California ranges from orange to purple-gray. (Courtesy Steve Lonhart) Sunflower stars are very agile, move up to 1 meter per ...