Echinodermata Collection

Extinct marine reptiles
Sheet 1 of a series of posters called Extinct Animals by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins c. 1862. This collection of marine reptiles lived during the Jurassic period between 200

Sea cucumber (Thelenota sp.) spawning. Microscopic sex cells (gametes) are being released to allow fertilisation (the fusing of a male and a female sex cell)

Male Leach's sea star (Leiaster leachi) broadcast spawning, releasing streams of sperm from its arms. Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan

Starfish on a beach
Starfish washed up on a pebble beach. Starfish, also known as sea stars, are a type of marine invertebrate. They have typical radial symmetry, with five arms branching off a central region

St. Cuthberts Beads - rosary made from crinoid columnals
Unidentified crinoid columnals used as beads for jewellery. Specimens from the Carboniferous Yoredale Shales, Ribblehead, Yorkshire

Pentrimites robustus, blastoid
Side view of a specimen from the Carboniferous (Mississipian), Illinois, USA - length 4 cm. Blastoids are extinct marine invertabrates belonging to the Phylum Echinodermata

Tylocidaris clavigera, sea urchin
A fossil echinoid (Tylocidaris clavigera) from the Cretaceous rocks of Gravesend, England

Anal sack of a double spined urchin (Echinothrix calamaris). Photographed in Manokwari, West Papua in Indonesia, Asia

Ochre & Purple Sea Stars / Starfish - in tidal zone Strawberry Hill State Park, Oregon coast, Pacific Ocean, USA LX425
TOM-1036 Ochre & Purple Sea Stars / Starfish - in tidal zone Strawberry Hill State Park, Oregon coast, Pacific Ocean, USA Pisaster ochraceous Tom & Pat Leeson Please note that prints are for personal

Temnocidaris sceptrifera, fossil echinoid
Temnocidaris (Stereocidaris) sceptrifera, 5.5 cm in diameter, from the Cretaceous Chalk of Hertfordshire, England, apical view

Crinoids
Criniods lived during the Lower Jurassic period. Their modern equivalents include echinoderms such as seaurchins, starfish and sea cucumbers

Patterns in the sand dunes (with sand dollar) of Isla Magdalena on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula, Mexico
Michael Nolan / SplashdownDirect

Mouth of Common Sea Urchin (Echinus esculentus) Guillaumesse, Sark, British Channel Islands

Necklace seastar (Fromia monilis) on Sea cucumber (Bohadaschia argus) Yap, Micronesia

Pearlfish (Carapus acus) in anus of Sea cucumber (Stichopus regalis). These species have a commensal relationship, with the fish living in the gut of the sea cucumber. Catalonia, Spain

Starfish Beach, with many starfish in the shallow sea (Asteroidea) Colon Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Bocas del Toro Province, Panama

Purple sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) in shallow water beneath forest. Browning Pass, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. North East Pacific Ocean

California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) uses a Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) as a toy. The sealions pick up the starfish and then drop them and chase after them as they sink

Cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae), detail, Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Crinoid or feather star (Antedon mediterranea) on Violescent sea whip or Red sea fan (Paramuricea clavata) Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area, Amalfi Coast, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Slate pencil sea urchins (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) on coral reef with Pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis), Hawaii

Purple and Ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) preying on Pacific blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus). Also seen are Green Surf Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)

Red starfish (Echinaster sepositus) group on sea floor, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Blue starfish (Coscinasterias tenuispina) close up of arm with tube feet, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Atlantic feather star (Antedon bifida) Tenerife, Canary Islands

Panamic Cushion Sea Star (Pentaceraster cumingi) and a school of Yellow-tailed Grunt (Anisotremus interruptus), Galapagos Island, Ecuador. December

Slate pencil sea urchins (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) in Hawaiian reef scene with Black triggerfish (Melichthys niger) Hawaii

Purple sea urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis), three of different colours. Tenerife, Canary Islands

Kaleidoscopic image of crinoids or feather stars. Indonesia

Horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) bed with Brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis) and Edible crab (Cancer pagurus), Shetland, Scotland, UK, September

Sea cucumber / Sea apple (Pseudocolochirus violaceus) Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Sea apple (Pseudocolochirus violaceus) Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Crinoid (Crinoidea) on artificial reef. Mabul, Malaysia

Chocolate chip sea star o (Protoreaster nodosus) on sandy bottom. Mabul, Malaysia

Kaleidoscopic image of Feather stars (Crinoidea) and Gorgonian wrapper anemone.(Nemanthus annamensis). Indonesia. Western Pacific

Sea apple, eating, using arm to transfer food into mouth. Ninepin Group or Kwo Chau Islands, Sai Kung District of Hong Kong, China

High magnification photo of the spines of a Common starfish (Asterias rubens). Gulen, Bergen, Norway. North Sea, North East Atlantic Ocean

Sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus) which has ejected a part of its internal organs called Cuvierian tubules. These significantly sticky strings are a defense mechanism designed to deter predators

Pearlfish (Carapus acus) outside of host Sea cucumber (Stichopus regalis) at night. These species have a commensal relationship, with the fish living in the gut of the sea cucumber. Catalonia, Spain

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Granulated sea star (Choriaster granulatus), Palau, Micronesia, Pacific

Plumose anemones (Metridium senile) and common starfish (Asterias rubens) beneath the sun in a Norwegian Fjord. Gulen, Bergen, Norway. North East Atlantic Ocean

Coleman shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) close up, on a fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium). Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Tropical West Pacific Ocean

Starfish close up detail, Blairgowrie, Mornington Penisular, Victoria, Australia. Port Philip Bay, Bass Strait

Blue sea star (Linckia laevigata) on coral reef, Fiji, South Pacific

RF - Long-spined sea urchin (Astropyga radiata). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Eucidaris tribuloides, sea urchin
Dead sea urchin (Eucidaris tribuloides) showing spines attached to test. From Carrie Bow Cay, Belize

Deep red Feather star shrimp (Hippolyte prideauxiana) crawling secretly amongst the arms of a Feather star (Antedon bifida), Loch Duich, Highands, Scotland, UK

Pair of Coleman shrimps (Periclimenes colemani) living in a fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium). The female is the larger shrimp

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"Echinodermata: A Fascinating Marine World Unveiled" Diving into the depths of Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan, we witness a mesmerizing spectacle. The Male Leach's sea star (Leiaster leachi) takes center stage as it engages in broadcast spawning, releasing streams of sperm from its arms. This captivating moment has earned it the prestigious title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 - Underwater category winner. But echinoderms have a rich history that stretches far beyond this contemporary marvel. From ancient marine reptiles that once roamed our oceans to delicate sea cucumbers gracefully navigating their surroundings, these creatures have left an indelible mark on Earth's evolutionary timeline. Venturing onto sandy shores, we stumble upon a starfish basking in the warmth of sunlight. Its presence reminds us of the diverse forms and colors exhibited by these enchanting beings. And let us not forget St. Cuthberts Beads – rosaries crafted from crinoid columnals – symbolizing both religious devotion and nature's intricate beauty. Delving further into history, we encounter Pentrimites robustus and Tylocidaris clavigera – fossils frozen in time as blastoids and sea urchins respectively. Their preserved remains offer glimpses into prehistoric ecosystems that once thrived beneath ancient seas. The anal sack of a double-spined urchin captures our attention next, highlighting the intricacies hidden within even seemingly mundane aspects of echinoderm anatomy. These fascinating structures serve vital functions within their underwater realm. Traveling across continents to Strawberry Hill State Park along Oregon's Pacific coast, Ochre & Purple Sea Stars emerge from tidal zones like vibrant jewels adorning rocky landscapes. Their presence is a testament to resilience amidst shifting tides and changing environments.