Red Cushion Sea Star

Image: James St. John
Oreaster reticulatus

This is quite possibly the most uncomfortable cushion I've ever seen.

Granulated Starfish

Image: Samuel Chow
Choriaster granulatus

Get stuffed, teddy bear! Stay down, plushy dog! Off you hop, bunny wabbit!

There's a new soft toy in town. And he's all arms.

Horror At Arms

Uh oh. Do you have a couch handy to hide behind? A teddy bear to cuddle? One of those Men In Black flashy things that make you forget everything you've just seen?

You might want one or two of these.

Fire Urchin

Image: Candace Pratt
Asthenosoma varium

The sea! The sea! The sea is on fire!

We don't need no water 'cos it evidently doesn't have the normally expected effect!

Black Long-spined Sea Urchin

Image: Patrick Randall

It's the water hedgehog...

OF DOOM!

Warty Sea Star

Image: Ratha Grimes
Echinaster callosus

Oh, no! There's been a terrible accident in the biological waste bin.
The warts are alive. Repeat: the warts are alive!

Edible Sea Urchin

Image: gordon.milligan
Echinus esculentus

It's the hedgehog of the sea!

Carpet Sea Star

Image: Kris McCracken
Meridiastra calcar

Anyone want a carpet?

Not Baskets With Stars On

Image: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

You'd think something called a 'Basket Star' might be a little gold sticker, or maybe a nice knitted affair to tie onto your wicker basket.

Palm Trees at Night

Image: NOAA Vents Program

Stalked Crinoids are those bizarre echinoderms that look like bony starfish with twice as many arms, resting on sticks.

Image: NOAA Vents Program
Palm trees on a cliff face

Their arms are feathery so they can catch tiny specks of food....

Image: NOAA Vents Program
Palm tree surrounded by shrubbery

Which makes them look just like palm trees!

Image: NOAA Vents Program
Palm trees and flowers

So if you ever happen to find yourself stranded in the deep sea with nothing but mud and volcanic rock formations for company...

Image: NOAA Vents Program
Palm trees on a really big cliff face

Head out to the nearest crinoid, squint a little and you'll be convinced you're relaxing on a tropical island!

Image: NOAA Vents Program
Palm trees on rolling hills

Tropical islands have their cold, foggy nights, too, you know.

The Blues V

Image: Hiyashi Haka
Lamprotornis caudatus

It's time for the blues! Either that or I'm a week late... Oh dear. Failure upon failure! Blues upon blues! Well, I guess it makes sense, really. Blues are eternal, after all. Haven't you heard? It's blues all the way down! At least on this page...

Cushion Star

Image: Patrick Randall

Even mermaids need a place to lay down their head.

Starfish to the rescue!

Magnum Sea Cucumber

Image: Nick Hobgood
Neothyonidium magnum

Could it be? Could it really be? A Sea Cucumber that isn't crushingly unattractive and may even be sort of... pretty?

Firebrick Starfish

Image: Richard Ling
Asterodiscides truncatus

Who knew bricks could look so pretty!

Egyptian Sea Star

Image: Alexander Vasenin
Gomophia egyptiaca

It's what I've always wanted!

A demonic starfish.

MUTANT GLOVE ON THE RUN!!

Someone didn't properly dispose of their plastic glove and now it has three thumbs and way too many fingers!

Red-lined Sea Cucumber

Image: Jan Messersmith
Thelenota rubralineata

Seriously. They're not joking about those red lines. This thing is covered in them!

Sea Cucumber Succumbs

Image: Daniel Kwok

There's only one thing worse than a sea cucumber sitting quietly in the mud...

Phyrella mookiei

Image: Michonneau F, & Paulay G

Good grief! Is that a sea cucumber attempting to be fuzzy AND wuzzy, both? Does it expect a cuddle?

The Blobs!

Check out this beautiful octopus! Is that a devil costume?