Why Almost All of the West Coast’s Sunflower Sea Stars Have Wilted Away A new study suggests most of the keystone predators have died off due to an unknown pathogen and increasing ocean temperatures Like other members of their species, these pothole-sized creatures can regrow their limbs — and in the case of the sunflower sea star, all 24 of them. In addition to listing the sunflower sea star as an endangered species, the team. Species Overview. The combination of ocean warming and an infectious wasting disease has devastated populations of large sunflower sea stars once abundant along the West Coast of North America, according to research by Cornell University and the University of California, Davis, in Science Advances, Jan. 30. Scientists first noticed the disease in 2013. Sunflower Stars are a favorite food of King Crabs. In our region — a world-renowned hotspot for sea star diversity —the virus affects blood stars, giant pinks, morning sun stars, the beloved ochre sea star and many others. It crawls over the seafloor like a robotic vacuum cleaner, munching on everything in its path. Sunflower stars are carnivorous and their diet includes numerous species such as sea urchins, clams, crabs, snails, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, chitons and dead fish. Image Caption Button Warming oceans and an infectious wasting disease has devastated populations of large sunflower sea stars once abundant along the West Coast of North America, according to new research. At left, thousands of sunflower sea stars swarm Croker Rock on Oct. 9, 2013. Sea Star Wasting Disease has decimated the population of the sunflower sea star in the Salish Sea according to SeaDoc Society. At right, the same site, three weeks later, with the sea stars vanished. (courtesy of Ed Gullekson) In the case of the sunflower star, losing one key species can change the entire ecosystem. The sunflower star is the Salish Sea’s fastest and largest sea star, often reaching 4 feet across, weighing up to 11 pounds and having up to 24 arms. The combination of ocean warming and an infectious wasting disease has devastated populations of large sunflower sea stars once abundant along the West Coast of North America, according to research by Cornell University and the University of California, Davis, in Science Advances, Jan. 30. When ecosystems are better off, we are all better off, and that’s why we think proposing listing of the little known sunflower sea star as endangered under the U.S. Federal ESA is not only good for the sunflower star, but for all of us. Like other members of their species, these pothole-sized creatures can regrow their limbs — and in the case of the sunflower sea star, all 24 of them. Their arms are up to 40 cm long and they are usually around 80 cm in diameter. Sunflower sea stars seem indestructible. Neil McDaniel An undersea plague is obliterating a key ocean species The sunflower sea star is large, about the size of a manhole cover, and possesses an enormous appetite. recognizes a need to rescue the population. This varied diet enables the Sunflower Star to forage and feed in various habitats from mud to solid rock. It may also be the fastest sea star. Their arms are up to 40 cm long and they are usually around 80 cm in diameter. The sunflower star has more arms than any other species, numbering between 15 and 24 (most sea stars have between 5 and 14), and is the heaviest known sea star, weighing about 5 kg. The sunflower star has more arms than any other species, numbering between 15 and 24 (most sea stars have between 5 and 14), and is the heaviest known sea star, weighing about 5 kg. Sunflower sea stars seem indestructible. None, though, have been hit as hard as the sunflower sea star. Sea star wasting disease, which is linked to a type of virus, is implicated in the sunflower stars’ decline, as it has been for about 20 other species. Pycnopodia helianthoides, the largest of the sea stars, is radially symmetrical. Tall sunflowers are not endangered. It is typically found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Unalaska Island, Alaska, to Baja California, but less typically south of Monterey Bay. Harvell stated that convening a team of experts to discuss the priorities for recovery and considering a captive breeding program may be helpful in the road toward increasing the sunflower sea star population. Further research shows the virus has affected at least 20 species of echinoderms from Alaska to Mexico. Many different animals eat sea stars, including fish, sea turtles, snails, crabs, shrimp, otters, birds and even other sea stars. Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides)Sunflower stars are the fastest moving and largest of the sea stars in our area. With the demise of sunflower sea stars, sea urchin populations in some areas have exploded, substantially reducing the kelp, Harvell said. Though the sea star’s skin is hard and bumpy, a predator can eat it whole if its mouth is large enough. Depending on your definition, most sunflower plants grow to be "tall" (from 5 to ten feet). The sunflower sea star is the largest of the sea stars and has the most arms. They can move up to 4' a minute, which is far faster than any of the other sea stars we commonly see as divers.