Echinoderm Collection (page 6)

A colorful coral reef grows in the Solomon Islands
A colorful coral reef grows along a deep dropoff in the Solomon Islands. This Melanesian region is known for its spectacular marine biodiversity

Bright sponges, soft corals and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Orange black coral bush and a sea star on a rocky reef top in Indonesia
Orange black coral bush seen through a window in the water, with sharp sunrays coming through, and a pink and brown sea star on a rocky reef top, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

A tiny shrimp lives on a starfish in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. This area is known for its extremely high marine biodiversity

Red and white soft coral with sea star on a rocky reef top in Indonesia
Red and white soft coral seen through a window in the water, with overhanging tree shadows above, and a orange sea star on a rocky reef top, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Giant barrel sponge and sea whip in front of the Liberty Wreck, Bali
Giant barrel sponge and sea whip in front of the Liberty Wreck with diver in background, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

A pair of Colemans shrimp live among the venomous spines of a fire urchin
A pair of Colemans shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) live among the venomous spines of a fire urchin in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Brittle Starfish on an orange sponge, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

A pin cushion starfish clings to a coral reef
A pin cushion starfish (Culcita sp.) clings to a coral reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical area in the western Pacific harbors an extraordinary array of marine organisms

A beautiful starfish lays on a thriving reef in Indonesia
A beautiful starfish (Linckia laevigata) lays on a thriving reef in Indonesia. This tropical region, within the Coral Triangle, is home to an incredible variety of marine life

Crinoids adorn large sponges under Siladen Jetty, Indonesia
Crinoids adorn large sponges under Siladen Jetty, Bunaken National Park, Indonesia

Yellow feather star on red sea fan, Papua New Guinea
Yellow feather star (Crinoid Sp) on red sea fan, Kimbe bay, Papua New Guinea

Detail of a sea star on a reef in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. This area is known for its extremely high marine biodiversity

Sea fans and crinoid, Fiji

Diver swims above a large sponge in Horseshoe Bay, Indonesia
Diver looks on at sponges, coral and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, taken at Cannibal Rock, Horseshoe Bay, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Colourful sea fan seascape, Papua New Guinea
Colourful sea fan (Melithaea sp.) with diver, Restorf Island, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

A blue starfish on the sandy seafloor near Alor, Indonesia
A blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) lays on the sandy seafloor near Alor, Indonesia. This remote region is known for its beautiful reefs and spectacular marine biodiversity

Fish swarm over a shipwreck that is covered in elephant ear sponge
Fish including bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus), swarm over a shipwreck that is covered in elephant ear sponge, Solomon Islands

A colorful crinoid clings to a reef near the island of Flores in Indonesia
A colorful crinoid clings to a shallow reef near the island of Flores in Indonesia. This beautiful region is known for its spectacular reefs and high marine biodiversity

Diver swims over sea fans, Indonesia

Clingfish on crinoid, Australia

Tangle of wiry red corals with black crinoid, Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia

A colorful sea apple clings to a reef in indonesia
A colorful sea apple (Pseudocolochirus violaceus) clings to a reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This beautiful area harbors extraordinary marine biodiversity

A blue starfish clings to a coral reef in Indonesia
A blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) clings to a coral reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

A crown-of-thorns starfish feeds on a table coral
A crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) feeds on a table coral on a reef in the Solomon Islands. This region, in the eastern part of the Coral Triangle

Red Starfish in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Imperator Commensal Shrimp on Eyed Sea Cucumber
Imperator Commensal Shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) on Eyed Sea Cucumber (Bohadschia argus), Fiji

Diver looks on at sponges, soft corals and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

A diver looks on at sea fans, Solomon Islands
A diver looks on at sea fans (Subergorgia sp.), Solomon Islands

Dianas hogfish swimming between three crinoids, Indonesia
Dianas hogfish (Bodianus diana), swimming between three crinoids, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

A colorful crinoid clings to a reef dropoff in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This beautiful region is known for its spectacular reefs and high marine biodiversity

Barrel sponge on Liberty Wreck, Bali, Indonesia

Colorful crinoids and sponges grow on a vibrant reef in Indonesia
Colorful crinoids and sponges grow on a vibrant reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This beautiful area harbors extraordinary marine biodiversity and is a popular destination for divers

A barrel sponge attached to a reef wall, Papua New Guinea
A barrel sponge (Xestosongia testudinaria) attached to a reef wall on South Emma reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Diver swims by a soft coral reef, Indonesia

Yellow commensal shrimp on crinoid
An undescribed yellow commensal shrimp (probably Laomenes sp.) on crinoid, Cenderwasih Bay, West Papua

Imperial shrimp on beige spotted sea cucumber
Orange, purple and white imperial shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) on beige spotted sea cucumber, Batangas, Philippines

Airplane wreck sitting atop reef, overgrown with soft coral and crinoids, Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia

Feather stars with a boat in the background, Papua New Guinea
Feather stars (Crinoid sp.) with a boat in the background, Susans reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Sea fans, Fiji

Commensal shrimp, Fiji

Exteme close-up of the mouth of a crinoid feather star, Papua New Guinea

A colorful Komodo seascape with crinoids, Indonesia
A colorful Komodo seascape with crinoids, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

A diverse array of invertebrates cover a reef in Indonesia
A diverse array of invertebrates cover a healthy reef in Indonesia. This region is home to more marine species than anywhere else on Earth

A blue starfish lies on the seafloor near a mangrove forest in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Mangroves play an important role as nurseries for fish and invertebrates

Diver with large purple sea fan, Cariibean Sea

Diver looks on at a colorful Komodo seascape, Indonesia
Diver looks on at sponges, pink soft corals and crinoids in a colorful Komodo seascape, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Sea fans illuminated by diver with twin lights, Raja Ampat, Indonesia

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"Echinoderms: Fascinating Creatures of the Sea" Diving into the depths of the ocean, we encounter an extraordinary world filled with diverse marine life. Amongst them, echinoderms stand out as captivating creatures that never fail to amaze us. In Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture, a Male Leach's sea star steals the spotlight as it engages in broadcast spawning. With arms extended gracefully, it releases streams of sperm into the water, contributing to new life beneath the waves. This mesmerizing sight earned its well-deserved recognition as Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 - Underwater category winner. But let us not forget their ancient relatives who once roamed our oceans. Extinct marine reptiles ruled during a time long past, leaving behind remnants like crinoid fossils known as "Sea Lilies. " Discovered in Northern Germany from the Triassic period over 240 million years ago, these delicate fossils offer glimpses into Earth's prehistoric wonders. Moving forward to present-day marvels, we encounter sea cucumbers and starfish gracing sandy beaches worldwide. Their unique shapes and vibrant colors add charm to coastal landscapes while reminding us of nature's artistic touch. Delving deeper into history reveals St. Cuthberts Beads—a rosary crafted from crinoid columnals—an exquisite testament to human creativity intertwined with echinoderm beauty. Further exploration uncovers Pentrimites robustus and Tylocidaris clavigera—blastoids and sea urchins respectively—each showcasing intricate patterns etched by evolution itself. Venturing along rocky shores brings encounters with double spined urchins' anal sacks—a peculiar yet essential part of their anatomy that aids in maintaining balance within their watery habitat. As we journey across continents, common starfish grace Oxwich Bay in Gower South Wales UK while ochre & purple sea stars adorn Strawberry Hill State Park on the Oregon coast, Pacific Ocean, USA.