Species profile
Leather Star
Dermasterias imbricata
Identify Leather Star (Dermasterias imbricata) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Leather Star (Dermasterias imbricata) is an echinoderm with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 14,367 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, California, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- The leather star releases a strong garlic-like chemical odor that repels many potential predators.
- Its smooth, rubbery skin gives it a distinctly different texture from most spiny sea stars.
- Leather stars range from Alaska to Baja California, living in depths to about 100 meters.
- They prey on sea anemones, chitons, sea cucumbers, and even other sea stars.
- Adults can reach 30 cm across and display a mottled orange and gray pattern.
Where Leather Star are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Leather Star
Background
The leather star, Dermasterias imbricata, is a starfish in the family Asteropseidae found at depths to 100 m off the western seaboard of North America.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Leather Star article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other starfish/urchins/cucumbers on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Leather Star?
Leather Star (Dermasterias imbricata) is an echinoderm with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Leather Star?
Leather Star is Dermasterias imbricata.
Is Leather Star regulated for fishing?
Yes — Leather Star has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Leather Star?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Leather Star along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.