astronomy-to-zoology:Cookie Star (Ceramaster patagonicus)…a species of deep water sea star th
astronomy-to-zoology:Cookie Star (Ceramaster patagonicus)…a species of deep water sea star that is occurs throughout the Southern Ocean, the Strait of Magellan, Australian and New Zealand waters, and on the western coast of the Americas ranging from Cape Horn to Alaska. Like other sea stars the cookie star feeds mostly on sessile invertebrates like sponges. If assaulted by another predatory starfish (like S. dawsoni) the cookie star will not flee and let the star try to eat it, it will then be repelled by a toxic chemical that causes its attacker to retreat.ClassificationAnimalia-Echinodermata-Asteroidea-Valvatida-Goniasteridae-Ceramaster-C. patagonicusImages: NOAA/NMFS and Phil-Sellick -- source link