Like a tessellation of gold and scarlet, the patterns of this Peppermint Sea Star reveal the intricate symmetry of Nature. Peppermint Sea Stars usually have five arms, and a specimen with six arms such as this is very rare. Most likely, this one suffered some type of trauma which removed one of its arms, and two grew back in its place.

Sea Stars may have only a few arms, but the bottom side of their arms has hundreds of suction-like feet, which they use to open bi-valves such as oysters. Once the shell of the bi-valve is opened, the sea star will actually push its stomach into the shell to digest the food inside. This star was photographed in Papua New Guinea.