Canadian wildlife · Drawing 33 of 41
Common Sea Star
On the coasts and in the ocean
The common sea star moves along the seabed. Its five arms spread out from a small centre. It lives among rocks and eats mussels and other shellfish.
Did you know?
Little tube-shaped feet lie underneath its arms.
Look together
How many arms can you see on this sea star?
An idea to try
Draw a five-armed star, then add little feet to its imaginary underside.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Scientific name: Asterias rubens. Where it lives: Canada’s Atlantic coasts. What it eats: Shellfish, including mussels, and other animals. Its little feet help it move and hold prey. This species usually has five arms; other sea star species can have more.
Sources and illustration notes (2)
Simplified drawing for colouring. Coat, feather or skin markings are left white so children can choose their colours. Proportions and details are not a scientific identification plate.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Benthic identification guideCanadian Asterias rubens identification, typically five arms and tube-foot locomotion.
- Marine Biological Association, MarLIN — Common starfishAnatomy, tube feet and bivalve prey.
Page prepared on September 30, 2026. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
This drawing is from the book Canadian Wildlife to Colour
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