astropectinid sea star, probably Macroptychaster accrescens or Leptychaster sp.

These sea stars get very large and massive; this animal is probably a juvenile or young adult [1]. Several characters place it in the Leptychaster - Leptoptychaster - Macroptychaster complex which isn't taxonomically well-defined; the species in these genera are fairly common on the Antarctic Shelf but variable in their morphology [1].

1: John Dearborn, personal communication, 1999

Text copyright ©Peter Brueggeman. Photographs ©Norbert Wu. Photographs may not be used in any form without the express written permission of Norbert Wu. Norbert Wu no longer grants permission for uncompensated use of his photos under any circumstances whatsoever; want more info?