Skip to main content
Today is World Environment Day!
Close

Giant Basket Sea Star (night)

Astrophyton muricatum

Photo by The MnMs
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

12.1723, -68.2898

Field Notes

Description:

During the day, it curls up into a tight ball shape to protect itself from predators. At night, it climbs to an elevated point to feed by extending its intricately branched feeding arms in a bowl-like shape in order to snare passing plankton and other organisms from the current.

Habitat:

Night dive in Bari Reef, Bonaire.

Reference Links:

Astrophyton - Wikipedia

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
Christine Y.
It's perfect that you got both shots and interesting to see the night and daytime behaviors! Great spottings :)
The MnMs
Hi Christine, I thought it was quite interesting because at first during the day we were wondering what these fuzzy balls in the corals were and then at night the mistery was solved :-)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
2017 Best Wildlife Photo
Mission
Wildlife of Bonaire
Photographed
PublishedDecember 30, 2017

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies