David Fleetham / Close up of underside of Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumungi), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

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...

Juergen Freund / Star shaped Pincushion / Pillow cushion starfish (Culcita novaeguinea), detail of the underbelly. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Star shaped Pincushion / Pillow cushion starfish (Culcita novaeguinea), detail of the underbelly. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Claudio Contreras / Cushion sea star (Oreaster reticulatus) on Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, July

Alex Mustard / California sea lion pup (Zalophus californianus) practicings its hunting skills by playing chase with a falling sea star (Panamic cushion star: Pentacerster cumingi). Los Islotes, La Paz, Baja Califor...

Nick Upton / Common / Starlet cushion star (Asterina gibbosa) from Atlantic Ocean. Devon, England, UK. September.

David Fleetham / Reticulated brittle star (Ophiocoma brevipes) on cushion starfish (Culcita novaeguineae), Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Reticulated brittle star (Ophiocoma brevipes), and commensal shrimp (Periclemenes soror) on a cushion starfish (Culcita novaeguineae), Hawaii.

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...

Sue Daly / Cushion Star (Ceramaster granularis), Trondheimsfjord, Norway, July.

Nick Upton / Cushion star (Asterina gibbosa) moving in a rockpool near a Flat top shell (Gibbula umbilicalis) and a Common prawn (Palaemon serratus), Cornwall, England, UK, September.

Nick Upton / Cushion star (Asterina gibbosa) moving in a rockpool near some Flat top shells (Gibbula umbilicalis), Cornwall, England, UK, September.

Georgette Douwma / Honeycomb or Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) close up. Oreasteridae. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Solvin Zankl / Red spiny cushion seastar (Porania antarctica) Comau Fjord, Patagonia, Chile, Atlantic Ocean

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

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

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

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

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

Georgette Douwma / Cushion starfish (Halityle regularis) with a small sand perch on sea bed. Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Cushion starfish (Halityle regularis) on sea bed. Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Blue sea star (Linckia laevigata) and Pin cushion sea star (Culcita noaguineae) on sea bed. Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

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.

Alex Hyde / Cushion Star (Asterias rubens) on a white background, Devon, UK. June.

Pascal Kobeh / Indian cushion sea star (Culcita schmideliana) close up, coast of Dhofar and Hallaniyat islands, Oman. Arabian Sea.

Sue Daly / Cushion Star (Asterina gibbosa) L'Etac, Sark, British Channel Islands.

Sue Daly / Cushion Star (Asterina gibbosa) Guillaumesse, Sark, British Channel Islands.

Sue Daly / Cushion Star (Asterina gibbosa) on sea shore, Sark, British Channel Islands.

MYN / Carsten Krieger / Cushion Star (Asterina gibbosa) from rock pool, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, August. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Michele Westmorland / Panamic Cushion Sea Star (Pentaceraster cumingi) on reef structure. Galapagos Islands.

Michele Westmorland / Diver swimming over reef structure. Panamic Cushion Sea Star (Pentaceraster cumingi) Galapagos Islands.

Alex Mustard / Cushion star (Asterina pancerii), juvenile backlit through a blade of seagrass (Posidonia oceanica). Punto Saline, Olbia, Sardinia, Italy. Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea. Endangered species.

Nick Upton / Cushion star (Asterina gibbosa) exposed on a low spring tide on rocks among barnacles (Verruca stroemia) and holdfasts of Tangleweed kelp (Laminaria digitata), near Falmouth, Cornwall, UK, August.

Nick Upton / Cushion star (Asterina gibbosa) on the move over submerged rocks low on the shore among a mix of red algae including Coralweed (Corallina officinalis) and Sea horsetail (Halurus equisetifolus) submerg...

Nick Upton / Cushion star (Asterina gibbosa) in rockpool alongside Common limpet (Patella vulgata) and red algae, Wembury, Devon, UK, August.

Nick Upton / Dahlia anemone (Urticina felina) with yellow striped tentacles and Cushion star (Asterina gibbosa) in a rockpool low on the shore near Falmouth, Cornwall, UK, August.

Alex Mustard / Cushion sea star (Oreaster reticulatus) high magnification detail of the skin gills used to absorb oxygen from the water between the red knobbly spines, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British...

Alex Mustard / Cushion sea star (Oleaster reticulatus) on turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) below man standing on a jetty, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Caribbean Sea.

Juergen Freund / Skin detail of Pin cushion sea star (Culcita novaguineae) West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Juergen Freund / Star shaped Pincushion / Pillow cushion starfish (Culcita novaeguinea), detail of the underbelly. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Cushion Star (Choriaster granulatus) on coral reef coverd with Xenia. Indonesia, December.

Sue Daly / Close up of skin of Vermillion / Red sea star (Mediaster aequalis) Pacific coast, Canada, August

Sue Daly / Starfish / Cushion sea star (Pentaceraster cf. multispinus) Cebu, Philippines, March

Robert Thompson / Cushion star {Asterina gibbosa} on shoreline at Killough, County Down, Northern Ireland, December

Claudio Contreras / Cushion sea star (Oreaster reticulatus) on Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) Contoy Island National Park, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, May

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lundgren / Close up of Red cushion star (Porania pulvillus) disk, Moere coastline, Norway, February 2009

Tim Laman / Cushion sea star {Oreaster reticulatus} amongst the submerged roots of Red mangrove trees {Rhizophora mangle} Belize Cays, Tunicate Cove, Belize.

Bernard Castelein / Close up of skin and mouth of Cushion Star (Culcita schmideliana) Zanzibar, Tanzania

GEORGETTE DOUWMA / Starfish (Pentaster sp.) on sandy bottom. Bali, Indonesia.

GEORGETTE DOUWMA / Starfish (Pentaceraster sp.) on sandy bottom. Bali, Indonesia.

Constantinos Petrinos / Sea star {Peltaster placenta} Greece

David Shale / cushion star dorsal view, benthic, Barents sea, Northern Europe

David Shale / Close up of Sea star {Ceramaster granularis} dorsal view, benthic, Barents sea, Northern Europe

Florian Graner / Red cushion star (Porania pulvillus) against dark background, Norway

Pete Oxford / Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) underwater on algae covered rock, Fernandina Island, Galapagos Islands, South America

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

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

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

Adrian Davies / Cushion star {Asterina gibbosa} on seaweed, UK

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.

Tony Wu / Female Cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae) spawning by climbing to top of reef to release eggs visible as cloud of tiny white dots. East China Sea, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

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...

Georgette Douwma / Composite image of marine invertebrates on black background. Top row from left: Tube anemone (Ceriantharia), Yellow sea cucumber (Colochirus robustus), Nudibranch (Nembrotha lineolata), Squat shri...

Georgette Douwma / Composite image of echinoderms on black background. top left to right: Pineapple sea cucumber (Thelenota ananas), Yellow sea cucumber (Colochirus robustus), Frianti's starfish (Nardoa frianti),...

Georgette Douwma / Composite image of echinoderms on black background. Top row from left: Featherstar (Crinoidea), Sea apple (Pseudocolochirus violaceus). Central row from left: Mosaic cushion star (Halityle regu...

Georgette Douwma / Composite image of echinoderms on black background. SEA CUCUMBER row from left: Pineapple sea cucumber (Thelenota ananas), Leopard sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus), Yellow sea cucumber (Colochirus...

Georgette Douwma / Composite image of echinoderms on black background. Top row from left: Featherstar (Crinoidea), Luzon starfish (Echinaster luzonicus), Mosaic cushion star (Halityle regularis). -Central row from...

Georgette Douwma / Composite image of echinoderms on black background. Species present: - Top row from left: Yellow sea cucumber (Colochirus robustus) and Lampert's sea cucumber (Synaptula lamperti), Black sea c...

Georgette Douwma / Various starfishes (Asteroidea) composite image showing diveristy of shapes and colours on black background. Top row from left: Granulated starfish (Choriaster granulatus), Mosaic cushion star (Ha...

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.

Georgette Douwma / Honeycomb / Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) on black background, Malapascua Island, Philippines, Indo-Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Honeycomb / Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) on black background, Malapascua Island, Philippines, Indo-Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Honeycomb / Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) on black background, Malapascua Island, Philippines, Indo-Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Honeycomb / Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) on black background, Malapascua Island, Philippines, Indo-Pacific.

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

Georgette Douwma / Honeycomb / Cushion starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus) on black background, Malapascua Island, Philippines, Indo-Pacific.

Magnus Lundgren / Cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae), detail, Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean.

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.