Alex Mustard / 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. Los I...

Alex Mustard / California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) using 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. Los...

Franco Banfi / Scuba diver with Panamic cushion seastars (Pentaceraster cumingi) Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Franco Banfi / Panamic cushion seastars (Pentaceraster cumingi) Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Doug Perrine / Knobby sea stars (Pentaceraster cumingi) aggregating on seabed, probably gathering for mating, Makako Bay, North Kona, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean.

Doug Perrine / Knobby sea stars (Pentaceraster cumingi) aggregating on seabed, probably gathering for mating, Makako Bay, North Kona, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean.

Doug Perrine / Knobby sea stars (Pentaceraster cumingi) aggregating on seabed, probably gathering for mating, Makako Bay, North Kona, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean.

David Fleetham / Close up view of five parasitic snails (Eulimidae) attached to the underside of a Knobby seastar (Pentaceraster cumingi), Hawaii, Pacific Ocean.

Tui De Roy / Panamic cushion seastar (Pentaceraster cumingi) with Gulfweed (Sargassaceae) on sea floor. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Tui De Roy / Panamic cushion seastar (Pentaceraster cumingi) next to red seaweed. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Tui De Roy / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) sleeping on underwater ledge with Panamic cushion seastar (Pentaceraster cumingi) and Galapagos black coral (Antipathes galapagensis). Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Paci...

David Fleetham / Close up of skin on Knobby seastar (Pentaceraster cumingi), Hawaii, Pacific Ocean. Usually found below 30 metres.

Franco Banfi / Starfish shrimp (Zenopontonia soror) on a Panamic cushion sea star (Pentaceraster cumingi) close up, Espiritu Santo Island, Baja California, Mexico, Sea of Cortez.

Franco Banfi / Starfish shrimp (Zenopontonia soror) on a Panamic cushion sea star (Pentaceraster cumingi) close up, Espiritu Santo Island, Baja California, Mexico, Sea of Cortez.

Franco Banfi / Starfish shrimp (Zenopontonia soror) on a Panamic cushion sea star (Pentaceraster cumingi) close up, Espiritu Santo Island, Baja California, Mexico, Sea of Cortez.

Franco Banfi / Panamic cushion sea star (Pentaceraster cumingi) feeding on a dead eel on the seabed, Espiritu Santo Island, Baja California, Mexico, Sea of Cortez.

Lucas Bustamante / Panamic cushion star / Cortez starfish (Pentaceraster cumingi) two arms reaching over rock, with two Galapagos sea slugs (Tambja mullineri) close by, North Seymour Island, Galapagos National Park, Pac...

Claudio Contreras / Panamic cushion sea star (Pentaceraster cumingi) on sea floor. Huatulco Bays National Park, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Pacific Ocean. November.

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

Tui De Roy / Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) on rocky seabed, Isabela Island, Galapagos, South America, Pacific Ocean.

Tui De Roy / Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi), Isabela Island, Galapagos, South America, Pacific Ocean.

Tui De Roy / Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) on seabed, Isabela Island, Galapagos, South America, Pacific Ocean.

Tui De Roy / Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) and Chocolate chip star (Nidorellia armata) on seabed, Isabela Island, Galapagos, South America, Pacific Ocean.

David Fleetham / A female Sea urchin crab (Echinoecus pentagonus) on the underside of a Panamic starfish (Pentaceraster cumingi), Hawaii.

Claudio Contreras / Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi), Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo Archipelago National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, September

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

Francisco Marquez / Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) on white background, Islas Marias Archipelago, Marias Biosphere Reserve, Mexico.

Will Watson / Red-knobbed sea star (Protoreaster lincki), held in the hand, Kwale Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. January.

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