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September 25, 2021: Sea Star

This species, observed during the Océano Profundo 2018: Exploring Deep-sea Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands expedition, is similar to one observed in the Pacific during the NOAA Ocean Exploration CAPSTONE expeditions (2015-2017). But until we can examine it, there remains some question as to whether it is exactly the same or a separate, new species.

Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Océano Profundo 2015: Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs. Download larger version (jpg, 1.5 MB).

The Goniasteridae is the most diverse family of sea stars known within the class Asteroidea, with some 260 species in 56 genera with many more still being discovered. Goniasterids occur primarily in deep-sea habitats across a wide range of depths, from 200 to 2,000 meters (656 to 6,562 feet).

This species, observed during the Océano Profundo 2018: Exploring Deep-sea Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands expedition, is similar to one observed in the Pacific during the NOAA Ocean Exploration CAPSTONE expeditions (2015-2017). But until we can examine it, there remains some question as to whether it is exactly the same or a separate, new species.

From: New and Rare Stars In the Abyss of Puerto Rico.