Hello, I'm an expert in marine biology with a keen interest in the interactions between different species in the ocean. When it comes to the question of what animal eats a sea star, there are several predators that can be considered.

Sea stars, also known as starfish, are consumed by a variety of marine animals. Some of the primary predators of sea stars include:


1. Sea Otters: These are one of the most well-known predators of sea stars, especially in the Pacific Northwest. They use their strong limbs to pry open shells of mollusks, and sea stars are often part of their diet.


2. Crab: Some species of crab, like the Dungeness crab, are known to eat sea stars, particularly the smaller ones.


3. Fish: Certain types of fish, such as the wolf eel and the largemouth bass, have been observed to consume sea stars.


4. Birds: Some sea birds, like the oystercatcher, will feed on sea stars.


5. Snails: Certain predatory snails, such as the nudibranch, can eat sea stars by releasing a toxin to immobilize them.


6. Sharks and Skates: Some sharks and skates are known to eat sea stars, although this is less common.

7.
Sea Urchins: Some species of sea urchins have been observed to feed on sea stars.

8.
Other Sea Stars: In some cases, sea stars may also be cannibalistic, consuming other sea stars.

It's important to note that the predation of sea stars can vary greatly depending on the specific ecosystem and the availability of other food sources.

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Many different animals eat sea stars, including fish, sea turtles, snails, crabs, shrimp, otters, birds and even other sea stars. Though the sea star's skin is hard and bumpy, a predator can eat it whole if its mouth is large enough. Predators with smaller mouths can flip the sea star over and eat the softer underside.read more >>