Text by Victoria Schlesinger; images by Jane Kim.

illustration of an ochre sea star getting eaten by a gull
This year’s spotlight: the ochre sea star. Jane Kim
SPOTLIGHT SPECIES: OCHRE SEA STAR

Ageless

The sliver of ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) wedged into a rocky crevice of the tidepool you’re peering into while the tide is low this July may be as old as 20 years. It owes its longevity to the fact that the ever-omnivorous gulls and clever sea otters are the only predators with the strength of will and skill to pry a sea star from its shelter. It can be almost as tough to confidently guess the age of a sea star. They grow and shrink throughout their long lives as conditions demand.

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Victoria Schlesinger is the editor in chief of Bay Nature.

Jane Kim is a visual artist, a science illustrator, and the founder of Ink Dwell, an art studio dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world. She trained at Rhode Island School of Design and then Cal State Monterey Bay, where she received a master’s certificate in science illustration. She specializes in large-scale public installations and has produced works for Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Aquarium, the de Young Museum, and many others. Ink Dwell