Valvatida Collection

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

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

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

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

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

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

Panamic cushion sea star (Pentaceraster cumingi) detail. Huatulco Bays National Park, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Pacific Ocean. November

Sea star (Odontaster validus) on Ribbon kelp (Durvillaea antarctica), Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Horned sea star / Chocolate chip sea star (Protoreaster nodosus) on the rocky seabed, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Pacific Ocean

Close up of the tube feet of a Purple velvet seastar (Leiaster leachi), extending from the protective crevice in one of its arms, Maui, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean

Honeycomb / Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) composite image on black background showing colour variations Malapascua Island, Philippines, Indo-Pacific species

An Elegant starfish (Fromia elegans) on hard coral, Fiji

The red and white surface details, including the gills, of a sunstar (Crossaster papposus). Lochcarron, Ross-shire, Ross and Cromarty, Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom. British Isles

Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi), Botella Point, Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico, August

Two Penta star (Peltaster placenta) Punta Campanella Marine Protected area, Costa Amalfitana / Amalfi coast, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean. October

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

California sealion, (Zalophus californianus), playing with seastar, Los Islotes, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Cushion Star (Asterina gibbosa) L Etac, Sark, British Channel Islands

Blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) Malaysia

Horned sea star (Protoreaster nodosus ) on sea bed. Malaysia, Indo-Pacific

Honeycomb / Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) Malapascua Island, Philippines, September

Chameleon goby (Tridentiger trigonocephalus) with Blue bat star (Patiria pectinifera) in background. Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea. Zhifu Island, Shandong Province, China

Photo showing detail of the underside and mount of a honeycomb sea star (Pentaceraster alveolatus) with two tiny shrimps (Periclimenes soror). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Close-up of an unidentified sea star in Indonesia
An unidentified sea star lays on a black sand seafloor in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical area in the western Pacific harbors an extraordinary array of marine organisms

An unusual sea star clings to a diverse reef near the island of Bangka
An unusual sea star (Linckia laevigata) clings to a diverse reef near the island of Bangka, Indonesia. This beautiful, tropical region is home to an incredible variety of marine life

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

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

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 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

A blue starfish clings to a reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia
A blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) clings to a reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

A tiny shrimp lives on a pin cushion sea star on a reef in Indonesia

Close-up of a sea star, Beqa Lagoon Fiji

Close-up of a Neoferdina insolita starfish in Indonesia
An unusual sea star (Neoferdina insolita) lays on a black sand seafloor in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical area in the western Pacific harbors an extraordinary array of marine organisms

Starfish in a diverse reef, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

Starfish on a brightly lit seafloor in the tropical Pacific Ocean
Bright sunlight ripples across starfish on a shallow sand seafloor in the tropical Pacific Ocean

Blue starfish cling to a coral bommie in Indonesia
Blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) cling to a coral bommie in Indonesia. This species of seastar is common throughout the Indo-Pacific

A pair blue starfish on the seafloor of Raja Ampat, Indonesia
A pair of blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) lies on the sandy seafloor of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This remote region is known as the heart of the Coral Triangle

A blue starfish on the seafloor of Raja Ampat, Indonesia
A blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) lies on the sandy seafloor of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This remote region is known as the heart of the Coral Triangle

A sea star clings to a diverse reef near the island of Bangka, Indonesia. This beautiful, tropical region is home to an incredible variety of marine life

A colorful chocolate chip sea star on the seafloor of Indonesia
A colorful chocolate chip sea star (Protoreaster nodosus) lies on the sandy seafloor of Indonesia. This species of echinoderm is commonly found near seagrass meadows

Detail of a pin cushion starfish on a reef in Indonesia
Detail of a pin cushion starfish (Culcita sp.) on a reef in Indonesia

A West Indian starfish on the seafloor in Turneffe Atoll, Belize
A West Indian starfish (Oreaster reticulatus) crawls slowly across a sand and seagrass seafloor in Turneffe Atoll, Belize

A purple sea star clings to a diverse reef near the island of Bangka, Indonesia. This beautiful, tropical region is home to an incredible variety of marine life

A blue starfish clings to a barrel sponge in Indonesia
A blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) clings to barrel sponge in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

Red seastar and seasquirts
Red seastar (Fromia milleporella) amongst seasquirts (Atriolum robustum) on a reef. Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

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Valvatida, a fascinating group of sea stars, showcases the incredible diversity and beauty found in our oceans. From the Male Leach's sea star releasing streams of sperm during its broadcast spawning to the Necklace seastar gracefully perched on a Sea cucumber in Micronesia, these creatures captivate us with their unique behaviors and interactions. In one captivating image, a California sea lion cleverly uses a Panamic cushion star as a resting spot, highlighting the intricate relationships between different marine species. Meanwhile, a Panamic Cushion Sea Star peacefully coexists with a school of Yellow-tailed Grunt fish, creating an enchanting scene that reminds us of the interconnectedness of life beneath the waves. The Blue sea star stands out against vibrant coral reefs in Fiji's South Pacific waters, showcasing its striking coloration and adding to the kaleidoscope of marine life. In another shot from Mexico's Huatulco Bays National Park, we get an up-close look at the intricate details of a Panamic cushion sea star's textured surface. Even in extreme environments like Antarctica's Southern Ocean, life finds a way. A Sea star clings onto Ribbon kelp amidst icy waters while Horned sea stars thrive on rocky seabeds around Isabela Island in Galapagos Islands' Pacific Ocean. Delving deeper into their world reveals astonishing features like Purple velvet seastar's tube feet extending from protective crevices or Honeycomb / Cushion starfish displaying stunning color variations against black backgrounds. An Elegant starfish delicately rests on hard coral formations in Fiji while sunstar mesmerizes with its red and white surface details and gills. These glimpses into Valvatida remind us that beneath tranquil ocean surfaces lies an extraordinary realm teeming with diverse ecosystems and awe-inspiring creatures. As winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 - Underwater category capture these moments frozen in time; they invite us to appreciate and protect the fragile beauty of our oceans.