Multimedia Gallery
Under the Antarctic Ice--Dorsal view of sea star
Dorsal view of sea star (Perknaster aurorae) on the bottom of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The dorsal color of this type of sea star ranges from brick with dark red markings to beige with brick bands along the arms and on the disc. The ventral color is pale yellow with dark red interradial bands that reach the oral region.
P. aurorae is found in the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia Island and Shag Rocks and probably throughout Antarctica from 18 to 310 meters depth. P. aurorae has a large, convex disc and long arms that are wide at the base. It has been collected at sizes up to 14 centimeters in radius from its center to the tip of an arm.
Studies of marine life is just one example of the many research projects supported by the National Science Foundation's U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). Other Antarctic study areas are aeronomy and astrophysics, biology and medicine, geology and geophysics, glaciology, and ocean and climate systems. Outreach such as the Antarctic Artists and Writers program and education programs are also supported.
For more information about USAP, visit the program's website. For more information about sea stars and other benthic life in McMurdo Sound, see the Underwater Field Guide to Ross Island & McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. [Note: Please see "Special Restrictions" below regarding use of this image.] (Date of Image: January 2005)
Credit: Henry Kaiser, NSF
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