Basket Star, Gorgonocephalus--2025 Judges’ Award Winner, Faculty/Project Scientist Participant Category. In Art of Science

Caption: <i>Gorgonocephalus chilensis</i> , a basket star echinoderm from Antarctica.
Participant category: Faculty/Project scientist
Department: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Marine Biology Research Division

This is <i>Gorgonocephalus chilensis</i>, a basket star collected from the eastern Scotia Arc in Antarctica. Its five many-branched arms are used to feed on plankton and usually lies coiled up when not feeding. This specimen is part of the extensive Antarctic collection held in the Benthic Invertebrate Collection at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It was collected as part of a baseline survey of biodiversity in the region, where ocean warming is rapidly impacting the ecosystem.