Phataria unifascialis

Phataria unifascialis
Found in Baja California (Mexico)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Ophidiasteridae
Genus: Phataria
Species:
P. unifascialis
Binomial name
Phataria unifascialis
(Gray, 1840)
Synonyms
  • Linckia unifascialis Gray, 1840
  • Linckia bifascialis Gray, 1840
  • Linckia unifascialis Gray, 1840
  • Ophidiaster suturalis Müller & Troschel, 1842
  • Phataria bifascialis (Gray, 1840)

Phataria unifascialis is a species of starfish in the family Ophidiasteridae. It is sometimes known as the blue seastar or tan starfish, but both these names are also used for other species (e.g., blue seastar for Linckia laevigata). It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean where it ranges from the Gulf of California and Magdalena Bay (Mexico) to northwest Peru, including various eastern Pacific island groups such as the Galápagos. It remains fully active at temperatures down to 17 °C (63 °F), but becomes inactive when it drops to 14 °C (57 °F). It reaches a diameter of about 30 cm (1 ft).