This sea star has a fairly large range from the Prince William Sound, Alaska to Sacramento Reef, Baja California. In the Salish Sea, they are seen frequently.

This is a small fish, max size 6 inches, that is common here in the Pacific NW. They can be found on muddy bottoms and near jumbled rocks. Often they are near a "bolt hole" that allows them to quickly hide from the observer. They are generally cream-colored with the dark eye, a black edge to the dorsal fin and a pale blue patch under the eye. We find them from intertidal to 200 feet. Sometimes they change to more tan with slightly darker bars on the sides.