This adorable little deep-sea starfish (Pteraster sp.) may look innocent, but a potential predator will get a taste of some nasty slime if it tries to take a bite! Scientists have observed this “slime star” spewing large amounts of mucus when disturbed. MBARI ROVs have seen this sea star from a few hundred meters to over 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) on the deep seafloor, sans the mucus.

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