This basket star was seen perfectly perched on a rock on the soft sediment bottom of Noyes Canyon during Dive 12 of the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition. This basket star was seen showing off its impressive branching and curling arms that are used to capture drifting food particles from the water column. The winding arms bring the captured food down to the animal’s mouth, located in the star-shaped central disc.
Basket Star
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).

This basket star was seen perfectly perched on a rock on the soft sediment bottom of Noyes Canyon during Dive 12 of the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition. This basket star was seen showing off its impressive branching and curling arms that are used to capture drifting food particles from the water column. The winding arms bring the captured food down to the animal’s mouth, located in the star-shaped central disc.