Bat star

The bat star (Patiria miniata), also known as a sea bat, webbed star, and broad-disk star, is a species of sea star (also called a starfish) in the family Asterinidae. It typically has five arms, with the center disk of the animal being much wider than the stubby arms are in length.[2] Although the bat star usually has five arms, it sometimes has as many as nine.[3] Bat stars occur in many of colors, including green, purple, red, orange, yellow and brown, either mottled or solid.[3] The bat star gets its name from the webbing between its arms, which is said to resemble a bat's wings.[4]

The bat star is usually found in the intertidal zone to a depth of 300 metres (980 ft). Its range extends from Sitka, Alaska to Baja California in the Pacific Ocean.[3] It is most abundant along the coast of Central California and the Monterey Bay.[2]