Unknown Sea Star 1

Unknown Sea Star 1 (Mediaster sp.?)

Sea stars (Class Asteroidea) and brittle stars (Class Ophiuroidea) belong to Phylum Echinodermata. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1727; V14

This bat star (shown to the left of a brittle star) has been observed on several occasions, living on the lava rocks in Axial Caldera. It has characteristics similar to members of the Genus Mediaster, which are common in the Pacific.