February 13, 2021: Slime Star
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas. Download larger version (jpg, 1.2 MB).
This slime star in the genus Hymenaster was imaged during a dive near Howland Island as part of the Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas expedition. When agitated, these sea stars can project streams of mucus at potential predators. While the deep-sea species are not as well known, shallow-water "slime stars" can repel potential predators, such as snails, crabs, and predatory sea stars.
From: Defenses in Sea Stars.