The purple or orange mottled star is a species of starfish that has narrow tipped arms. Some stars have spikes on their arms, which protect them from predators. Pedicelleria, or pincers, which clean off rocks and dirt cover the bottom of the arms. Most mottled stars have five to six arms, but some have been found with up to ten arms. With the ability to regenerate body part, the mottled star can produce its arms over and over again. People found this fact out awhile back when fishermen used to cut them in half to kill them, just to find out the next year the population was even higher. mottled stars range in diameter from one inch to one yard.

The mottled star preys on clams, plankton, dead marine organisms, coral, fish, and oysters. The mottled star is found in most of the maritime region of Alaska in tide pools or around rocks and shores, but can be found at the deepest parts of the ocean.