Northern Sea Star

The Northern sea star is one of the most common and recognizable sea stars in the North Atlantic. With its five arms and rough, spiny skin, it slowly crawls along the ocean floor in search of food. Despite its simple appearance, the Northern sea star is a skilled predator and plays an important role in keeping marine ecosystems balanced.

Northern sea stars live in a variety of habitats, from shallow tide pools to deeper offshore waters, often clinging to rocks, sand, or seaweed. They are found along the Atlantic coasts of Canada and Europe. They grow slowly but steadily, and with no backbone or skeleton like a fish, they can squeeze into small spaces. Northern sea stars can live for several years in the wild if conditions are right.

juvenile-atlantic-wolffish-anarhichas-lupus-15365921.jpg.webp

Wolfie is our resident Atlantic wolffish, temporarily staying at the aquarium as part of our catch-and-release program. He was collected near Petty Harbour at a depth of over 250m, where the water temperature was a chilly 3°C—just how he likes it! As a cold-water species, Wolfie will stay with us until the early summer months, when the water temperatures become too warm for his comfort. During his stay, visitors can observe his unique features up close and learn about the important role wolffish play in our ocean ecosystems.