Basket Stars

Thanks to Sara for dragging me out for a dive at Dili Rock last night. Of the cool creatures we found in our torchlights, I think these two basket stars (Gorgonocephalus sp.) are worthy of a post. After a bit of research, I found that there are 10-12 species of basket stars, that they are typically found in cold water, and that they are closely related to brittle stars, although much larger. These two are 25cm and 40cm respectively. The second photo below is of an individual that has lived in the same spot for at least seven years. Any guesses on the natural life span of a basket star? No googling.