skip to main content

Creatures of the Deep: Basket Star

52 seconds

Now Playing As: Captioned (English) (change)

This creature was found 1,800 feet deep in the ocean. It’s called a basket star. This extraordinary invertebrate has a mass of twisting and turning arms that can measure a meter long. Each branch has tiny sharp hooks allowing the creature to capture prey, and it feasts mainly on zooplankton. Basket stars are able to grow their limbs back if they are broken or chopped off by predators. Part of the "Creatures of the Deep" series.

Media Details

Runtime: 52 seconds

Close up of an anglerfish on the ocean floor with a flat belly, an ovoid, spiny body, and a rod protruding from its head. Caption: distinguished by the rod protruding from its head
Creatures of the Deep
Episode 1
58 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Mass of twisting, turning arms with tiny sharp hooks. Caption: Basket stars are able to grow their limbs back
Creatures of the Deep
Episode 2
52 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Large, light colored bathysaurus swimming along the bottom of the ocean. Caption Indonesian waters. Caption: (male narrator) This creature was found 6900 feet deep in the ocean.
Creatures of the Deep
Episode 3
53 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
A close up of a fish against a dark backdrop. Closely set fins and spots on face. Caption: Its skeleton is made of cartilage.
Creatures of the Deep
Episode 4
53 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
A sea spider with long, extremely thin legs crawling on the ocean floor. Caption: (male narrator) This creature was found 2300 feet deep in the ocean.
Creatures of the Deep
Episode 5
54 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12