Deep-sea sun star (Rathbunaster californicus) .This photo was taken at a depth of -404.4 meters in Sur Canyon as a part of a deep-sea coral expedition conducted by NMFS aboard the R/V Shimida in December, 2010. Photo taken Dec. 21, 2010, Location: Point Sur, Sur Canyon.Kevin L. Stierhoff / NOAA SWFSC From: SIMoN
Anne Isabelley Gondim, Martin Lindsey Christoffersen, Thelma Lúcia Pereira Dias
Zookeys
Figure 9.Some species of the order Velatida (A–H) and Forcipulatida (I–M) recorded in northeastern Brazil. Calyptraster coa (A–H) A Abactinal view, in detail the supradorsal membrane B Actinal view C Detail of the paxillae with long peduncles D Actinal view of the arm E Detail of the mouth F Detail of the actinal intermediate area G Abactinal view, in detail oscular valves H Actinal view; Coscinasterias tenuispina (I–M) I Abactinal view J Actinal view L Abactinal view of the arm, in detail the bivalve pedicallariae (optical microscopic image), and M Lateral view of the arms, in detail the bivalve pedicellariae (optical microscopic image).
The sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) is a large predatory sea star usually with 1624 limbs called rays. It is the largest sea star in the world. Sunflower sea stars can grow to have an arm span of 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) in diameter.[2] The color of the sunflower sea star ranges from bright orange, yellow and red to brown and sometimes to purple, with soft, velvet-textured bodies and 1624 arms with powerful suckers.[2][3] Most sea star species have a mesh-like skeleton that protects their internal organs.[4] Easily stressed by predators such as large fish and other sea stars, they can shed arms to escape, which will grow back within a few weeks. They are preyed upon by the king crab.[4]