Henricia pumila

Dwarf Mottled Henricia

Family: Echinasteridae · Class: Asteroidea · Order: Spinulosida

Henricia pumila, commonly known as the Dwarf Mottled Henricia, is a small sea star in the family Echinasteridae. This species belongs to the order Spinulosida, which comprises sea stars characterized by small spines or granules covering their body surface rather than large, prominent spines. The specific physical characteristics of H. pumila, including size measurements, coloration patterns, and distinguishing morphological features, have not been well documented in the available scientific literature. As suggested by its common name, this species likely exhibits mottled coloration patterns and represents one of the smaller members of the genus Henricia. According to NatureServe Explorer, Henricia pumila occurs along the Pacific coast from Sitka, Alaska, to Baja California, Mexico. Within California, this distribution would encompass the state's entire coastline, though specific county records and population densities remain undocumented. The species' presence in California waters makes it part of the diverse echinoderm fauna inhabiting the state's marine environments. Henricia pumila inhabits intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, occurring from the intertidal zone to depths of at least 15 meters (50 feet) (NatureServe Explorer). This habitat range suggests the species can tolerate the variable conditions of intertidal environments, including exposure during low tides, as well as the more stable conditions of shallow subtidal areas. The specific substrate preferences, microhabitat requirements, and associations with particular marine vegetation or invertebrate communities have not been documented. Like other members of the genus Henricia, H. pumila is presumably a carnivorous predator and scavenger, though its specific dietary preferences, feeding behaviors, and prey species remain unstudied. Reproductive biology, including breeding seasons, larval development patterns, and recruitment dynamics, has not been documented for this species. The ecological role of H. pumila within California's marine ecosystems and its interactions with other species require investigation. The conservation status of Henricia pumila has not been formally assessed at federal or state levels as of December 2025. No listing status exists under the Endangered Species Act or California Endangered Species Act. The species' population trends, primary threats, and conservation needs remain unknown due to the lack of comprehensive studies. Given the limited scientific documentation available, research priorities should include basic biological surveys, habitat characterization, and population assessments to establish baseline knowledge for this poorly known California marine species. Scientific documentation for this species remains extremely limited. The information presented here is based on available taxonomic and distributional data from NatureServe Explorer. If you have additional verified information about this species' biology, distribution, or ecology, please contact us to help improve this species account.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, and more.