Deep-sea basket stars wriggle an impressive array of arms to snare a meal

Perched atop a coral or a rocky outcropping, a basket star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) stretches out its arms to trap zooplankton and other particles of food drifting in the waters overhead. A basket star’s repeatedly branching arms bear microscopic hooks and secrete sticky mucus to help grab planktonic prey. After snagging a morsel of food, the arm curls into a tight knot and passes it to the mouth beneath the star’s central disc. Basket stars are especially common at seamounts. These underwater mountains deflect the currents running along the deep seafloor, concentrating food and supporting a rich community of life. Corals and sponges thrive on seamount slopes and provide refuge for countless fishes and invertebrates. These deep-sea oases are threatened by fishing gear and climate change, and may soon become targets for seabed mining too. But marine protected areas can safeguard seamounts and the abundant animals that depend on them. Common name: Basket star Scientific name: Gorgonocephalus eucnemis Reported depth range: 10 meters - 1,850 meters (30-6,110 feet) Size: to 75 centimeters (30 inches) Learn more about these fabulous animals: Explore MBARI’s Animals of the Deep gallery: Editor: Ted Blanco Writer: Larissa Lemon Production team: Larissa Lemon, Raúl Nava, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun