Sea Stars & Sea Cucumbers!
I was asked to take some pictures of our scientific model organisms for a colleague. I figured you all might like to see them as well, considering how magnificently cool and weird they are. If any are used for publication, they will be removed from here.
The first is the Bat Star, Patiria miniata (formerly Asterina miniata) and the second is the California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus. Click on image for larger versions.
Bat Star, Patiria miniata
Bat Star, Patiria miniata - this one has 6 arms!
Bat Star, Patiria miniata
Bat Star, Patiria miniata - tube feet (also note the tiny brown polychaete worm)
California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus
California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus
California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus
California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus - the mouthparts look a bit like cauliflower heads when submerged.
California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus
California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus - I smell a bad SyFy channel movie in the making...