This is Culcita novaeguineae or Cushion Sea Star
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This is the Cushion Sea Star, Culcita novaeguineae.
A lot of my diver friends will refer to it as a shark’s pillow. Rest assured, I have never seen a shark sleeping on a Cushion Star….LOL.
The coloration and patterns on them can vary greatly. You can find them amongst coral rubble and rocky reefs. Their mouth is on the bottom, or underside in the central area. They eat by actually extending their stomachs, from their underside, to eat stony corals, detritus, and other small invertebrates. By extending their stomachs, they can consume larger prey.
Star fish are not truly fish, and should technically be called sea stars. They do not have gills and are in the family of Echinoderms, meaning spiny skin. They are closely related to sea urchins, sand dollars, and even sea cucumbers. There are actually about 2,000 species of sea stars in the world. They usually exhibit radial symmetry, meaning their bodies are arranged around a central axis. Sea stars have a 5 point radial symmetry which means their bodies can be divided into 5 sections.
Sea Stars are very interesting, and can live up to 35 years. There is actually no brain or blood in a Sea Star. However, they do have an eye at the end of each arm. These eyes do not see well, but they have the ability to sense light and dark. They also have the ability to regenerate any damaged or lost arms. Lastly, Sea Stars have a lot of hydraulic tube feet that are connected to an elaborate water-vascular system that circles the mouth. They will move water down each arm, which in turn, allows all the tube feet to move and propel the Sea Star around. Simply Amazing!
The image above was taken during a Private Ocean Project Maui Snorkel Tour.
This colorful image was taken off a West Maui Beach by the dedicated staff of Ocean Project Maui. They offer custom, private snorkel tours around the island of Maui, Hawaii. Each #COLORSOFTHEOCEAN image you see in our monthly blog, was captured during a private guided snorkel tour. These amazing images, as well as images above and below the water of the clients/supporters are included in every tour at no additional cost.
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