Yes, sea stars or starfishes are really melting into slime.

Massive numbers of sea stars are wasting away along the West Coast shoreline from southern California to Alaska. The sea stars loose their arms and waste away, yet scientists are unsure of the cause of this most recent die-off.

Sea stars are Keystone Species, which means that this massive die off may bring a serious shift to marine ecosystems. Admittedly, I’m not a marine biologist, but I love spending time at the edge of the Pacific, occasionally showing my sons the wondrous world of tide pools.

Take a look at what’s happening to the sea stars:

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Editor: Bryonie Wise
Photo Credit: Isabella Chowra (Pixoto)