Vibrant Ochre Sea Stars Clustered in Pacific Tide Pool
Saturday, July 18th, 2026 at 2:57:02 PM · 2026/Schoolhouse Beach Tide Pools
This close-up photograph captures a remarkable gathering of ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) in their characteristic color variations — vivid orange, rusty red, and deep purple — sprawled across barnacle-covered intertidal rocks exposed at low tide. Clusters of blue mussels (Mytilus californianus) are visible in the upper right, serving as the primary prey of these keystone predators. Green anemones peek out from crevices and tide pools between the rocks, adding splashes of emerald to the scene. The wet, glistening rock surface indicates a recent or ongoing low tide, typical of a Pacific Northwest rocky intertidal zone. The image was taken at Schoolhouse Beach and conveys the remarkable biodiversity and ecological complexity of Pacific coast tide pools.
Chronologically Adjacent
