This is a pearl sea star (Fromia monilis: 20 cms.), which is one of the most beautiful species of starfish. It has a large red central plate, the mouth being underneath this area. The five arms are covered by many smaller brightly coloured plates. Sea stars can grow a new limb if one has been eaten. Regenerating starfish, subjected to such predation, can often be seen with 3 or 4 arms. Moving by means of hundreds of hydraulically-controlled tube feet, they feed mainly on sponges and small invertebrates. At the top, there is part of a yellow featherstar (Oligometra serripinna). Egyptian Red Sea

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Size: 3253px × 4500px
Location: Near Hurghada, Egypt
Photo credit: © Terence Dormer / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: adventure, coral, creation, diving, egypt, feather, featherstar, fromia, life, marine, monilis, natural, oligometra, pearl, red, reef, scuba, sea, selection, serripinna, star, starfish, trd5143, underwater