In the last decade, the sunflower sea star species dropped 90%. One researcher stepped up to save them from extinction.

Scientists estimate that more than 5 billion sunflower sea stars, once a mighty predator, have died in the Pacific Ocean because of warming waters.

A rare, giant starfish could hold the key to restoring kelp forests on the California coast A sunflower sea star, which is considered functionally extinct in California, Oregon and coastal Washington.

For the last decade, California’s offshore seafloors have been missing a massive, colorful predator that keeps kelp-munching sea urchins in check. The sunflower sea star is a big starfish ...

Bringing back sunflower sea stars, which are functionally extinct in California, could help restore kelp forests off the coast, researchers say.

For the last decade, California’s offshore seafloors have been missing a massive, colorful predator that keeps kelp-munching sea urchins in check. The sunflower sea star is a big starfish ...

For the last decade, California’s offshore seafloors have been missing a massive, colorful predator that keeps kelp-munching sea urchins in check. The sunflower sea star is a big starfish ...

The sunflower sea star is a big starfish — more than 3 feet across — that roams the ocean floor in orange, yellow and purple.

For the last decade, California’s offshore seafloors have been missing a massive, colorful predator that keeps kelp-munching sea urchins in check. The sunflower sea star is a big starfish ...

Bringing back sunflower sea stars, which are functionally extinct in California, could help restore kelp forests off the coast, researchers say.

The sunflower sea star is a big starfish — more than 3 feet across — that roams the ocean floor in orange, yellow and purple.