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The most brilliant stars we see aren’t always the ones in the sky.

From the beautiful to the bizarre, the seas are full of an amazing array of starfish species as MNN’s Jaymi Heimbuch demonstrates in this post highlighting nineteen of the more than 2000 species living in our oceans.

Royal starfish (Astropecten articulatus) (above)

This vividly colored species is found along the east coast of North America, primarily in the southeast. While it can live at depths of up to 700 feet, it mostly hangs out at around 70-100 feet deep where it dines on mollusks. Unlike many other species of starfish, the royal starfish eats its prey whole.

Photo credit: Ethan Daniels /Shutterstock

Sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides)

The sunflower star is the largest sea star in the world, reaching an armspan of 3.3 feet. That space is taken up by 16-24 arms. They’re found along the coast of North America, from Alaska to California, but they’re largest in the northern areas. They dine on sea urchins, clams and snails and are usually found in subtidal areas where there is always water, since they can’t support their bodies out of water.

Photo credit: Hectonichus/wikipedia

Necklace Starfish (Fromia monilis): This jewel-like starfish is found in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. Found in shallow water in rocky areas, it feeds on sponges and small invertebrates. It can get as large as 12 inches across, and has unusual and beguiling coloring. That plus its relative hardiness makes it a favorite for people who keep salt water aquariums. It is also called the red tile starfish for obvious reasons.

Full story at MNN.

Gems of the sea.

Graphics credit: Canva