Brisingids sea stars are the velcro of the deep sea

This festive collection of bright orange filter-feeding brisingid sea stars and scavenging sea urchins were found on a rocky seamount about 700 meters (~2,300 feet) deep in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Brisingids are highly modified sea stars that use their clawed spines to act as velcro to capture tiny prey as food. The mission to explore this remote region in the central Pacific was led by Erik Cordes, Randi Rotjan and WHOI’s Tim Shank aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute‘s R/V Falkor. (Image captured by the ROV SuBasitian)