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Location
Brooklyn, NY
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I recently got back from Bocas Del Toro; Bocas are the group of islands in Caribbean Sea that belong to Panama on the border with Costa Rico.
It provides world class diving and snorkeling.
I had the time of my life doing both and had a lot pictures taken.
At one location we discovered a forest of Gorgonian corals, a large variety of colorful sponge and the brittle sea stars everywhere you look. I have been diving for 25 years, but have never seen brittle stars seating in the open, covering every available open space. To my best knowledge these stars do not eat corals and sponges.
The question is what are they doing seating in the open and is this some kind of a different brittle stars bread?
PS
I also attached a little bonus for people that keep terrarium fans with exotic frogs. This is a Red Dart Frog found in the tropical forests of Panama and Costa Rico. It?s considered to be poisonous. Local Indians rub their arrow darts against frog?s back and the poison paralyze targets after it enters their blood stream.
 

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KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
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Wow on the pics, we do need to see more!! :)

Regarding the stars..likely they are out in the open because they are feeding on plankton and the current in that area must have been flowing well. The other thing to note is the type of creatures, like the sponges and the feather duster and the gorgs also feed on the same type of things. There are also some types of stars that feed off the mucos of gorgonians, so that may alos be why you found this group living together.

Awesome pics! I can't say that enough! :)
 
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Rating - 100%
25   0   0
Kathy, I do not mind to share pictures with Manhattanreefs members. I have few questions. What is the appropriate forum for this activity? Do you think I have a shot at Picture of the week?
Regards Ben.
 

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