A new brown morph of the slime star – pterasterid Hymenaster – was observed. This animal was greater than 10 centimeters wide and had a soft, gelatinous surface held up over its proper body surface. These stars can project mucus as a defense when harassed.
Slime Star
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana.
A new brown morph of the slime star – pterasterid Hymenaster – was observed. This animal was greater than 10 centimeters wide and had a soft, gelatinous surface held up over its proper body surface. These stars can project mucus as a defense when harassed. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).
Learn more