About Dermasterias imbricata (Grube, 1857)
This species, Dermasterias imbricata, is commonly known as the leather star. It has a broad central disc and five short, plump arms that taper broadly out from the central disc. Each arm has two rows of tube feet, and no marginal plates border the arms. The upper aboral surface is smooth and velvety; this texture is enhanced by the complete absence of spines and a light layer of mucous covering the surface. The body is covered with a reticulated reddish-brown pattern, and often has patches of greyish-blue. The leather star has no pedicellariae, but its madreporite is clearly visible. This species of starfish can grow to around 30 centimeters (12 inches) in diameter, and has a distinct odor that resembles a mix of garlic and sulphur.
The leather star’s range covers the western seaboard of North America, stretching from Cook Inlet, Alaska down to northern Mexico, and it is also found in Puget Sound. It inhabits the intertidal zone as well as deeper waters, reaching depths of approximately 100 meters (330 feet). It most commonly lives on rocky seabeds, and can occasionally be found on sandy bottoms.
