The deep seafloor is home to a dazzling diversity of starshaped invertebrates. From expansive abyssal plains to rocky canyons, these stars—in the subphylum Asterozoa—have adapted in various ways to thrive in the deep. Some of these underwater stars scuttle across the mud on an army of tiny tube feet. Others perch on rocky outcrops, waving a twisted tangle of arms in the current. Their diets range from tiny drifting plankton to scavenged scraps, or crustaceans, worms, and even the occasional fish! Several of these sensational stars have armored plates for protection, while others spew nasty slime when a predator tries to grab a bite!

Understanding and documenting the amazing biodiversity of animals in the deep sea is increasingly critical. Fishing pressure, pollution, and climate change all threaten ocean health. Help us spread the word about protecting the important but rarelyseen habitats deep below the ocean’s surface.

More fascinating animals of the deep: https://mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep

Producer/editor: Larissa Lemon
Production team: Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun
Music: Absolute Calmness by Interx

Animals in order of appearance:
0:00 Basket star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) | 4,272 feet (1,302 meters) | Davidson Seamount
0:09 California sun star (Rathbunaster californicus) | 1,535 feet (468 meters) | Monterey Canyon
0:16 Cushion star (Pterasteridae) | 4,298 feet (1,310 meters) | Sur Ridge
0:30 Brittle star (Ophiuroidea) | 5,118 feet (1,560 meters) | Pacific Northwest
0:37 Sea star (Benthopecten claviger) | 6,703 feet ( 2,043 meters) | Pacific Northwest | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm
0:45 Brisingid sea star (Brisingidae) | 10,525 feet (3,208 meters) | Monterey Bay | lasers 30 cm apart
0:52 Sea star (Nearchaster) | 9,337 feet (2,846 meters) | Taney Seamount | lasers 29 cm apart
1:00 Slime star (Hymenaster) | 10,157 feet (3,096 meters) | Monterey Canyon | lasers 29 cm apart
1:09 Slime star (Pterasteridae), brisingid sea star (Brisingidae), and California sun star (Rathbunaster californicus) | 627 meters | Monterey Canyon | | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm
1:15 Sea star (Zoroasteridae) | 8,087 feet (2,465 meters) | Monterey Bay
1:23 California sun star (Rathbunaster californicus) | 679 feet (207 meters) | Monterey Bay
1:32 Cushion star (Pterasteridae) | 10,715 feet (3,266 meters) | Davidson Seamount
1:38 Basket star (Gorgonocephalus sp.) and brittle star (Ophiuroidea) | 4,019 feet (1,225 meters) | Taiwan
1:46 Brisingid sea star (Brisingidae) | 4,698 feet (1,423 meters) | Pacific Northwest | lasers 29 cm apart
1:54 Cushion star (Pterasteridae) | 2,756 feet (840 meters) | Sur Ridge
2:00 Brisingid sea star (Brisingidae) | 5,790 feet (1,765 meters) | Guide Seamount
2:14 Slime star (Hymenaster) | 8,094 feet (2,467 meters) | Pacific Northwest | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm
2:22 Brisingid sea star (Brisingidae) | 2,238 feet (682 meters) | Monterey Bay
2:29 Slime star (Hymenaster) | 6,706 feet (2,044 meters) | Pacific Northwest | lasers 29 cm apart
2:36 Spiny sea star (Hippasteria californica) | 4,006 feet (1,221 meters) | Sur Ridge | lasers 29 cm apart
2:43 Sea star (Asteroidea) | 3,228 feet (984 meters) | Monterey Canyon | lasers 30 35 cm apart
2:52 Brisingid sea star (Brisingidae) | 8,087 feet (2,465 meters) | Monterey Bay
2:58 Fisheating star (Stylasterias forreri) | 1,210 feet (369 meters) | Monterey Canyon | lasers 30 35 cm apart
3:06 Fivearm basket star (Asteronyx) | 2,103 feet (641 meters) | Monterey Canyon
3:13 Sea star (Asthenactis fisheri) | 5,118 feet (1,560 meters) | Pacific Northwest | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm
3:20 Brisingid sea star (Brisingidae) | 2,323 feet (708 meters) | Monterey Canyon
3:28 Sea star (Hippasteria) and brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) | 5,545 feet (1,690 meters) | Guide Seamount | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm
3:38 Sea star (Asteroidea) | 5,659 feet (1,725 meters) | Davidson Seamount
3:43 Brittle star in sponge (ophiuroids in Porifera) | 2,077 feet (633 meters) | Monterey Canyon
3:50 California sun star (Rathbunaster californicus) and fivearm basket star (Asteronyx) | 1,394 feet (425 meters) | Monterey Canyon
3:50 Sea star (Luidia foliolata) | 1,306 feet (398 meters) | Monterey Bay
4:05 Slime star (Hymenaster) | 8,084 feet (2,464 meters) | Monterey Bay
4:12 Spiny sea star (Hippasteria) | 3,980 feet (1,213 meters) | Sur Ridge
4:20 Sea star (Leptasterias) | 10,033 feet (3,058 meters) | Morro Bay area
4:37 Basket star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) | 374 feet (114 meters) | Monterey Bay
4:34 Sea star (Crossaster borealis) | 4,357 feet (1,328 meters) | Pacific Northwest | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm
4:42 Sea star (Benthopecten) | 3,058 feet (932 meters) | Morro Bay | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm
4:49 Spiny sea star (Hippasteria) | 5,174 feet (1,577 meters) | Pacific Northwest | horizontal lasers 29 cm apart, vertical 2.5 cm