About Heliaster kubiniji Xantus, 1860
This species is commonly called the gulf sun star. After recently completing metamorphosis, juvenile gulf sun stars have five arms. As the animals grow larger, additional arms develop, and adult individuals have between nineteen and twenty-five arms. Large adults are mauve-colored, with black and green blotches and bands, while juveniles have a darker overall color. This sea star typically reaches an approximate diameter of 15 cm (6 in). The gulf sun star is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its geographic range extends from Cape Mendocino, California, south to Nicaragua.
