Stealing a peek

Easily mistaken for a lump of rock, cushion stars can be spotted at times near the reef edges of Cyrene and Semakau, where they are believed to graze on polyps and other sessile organisms. The aboral surface of these placid animals is a floral mosaic of studs and rosettes that resist the predations of strong-jawed fish. A peek at the private parts reveals similar textures plus five radiating grooves with stout tube feet that generate enough grip to propel this living pin cushion across the flat and yet keep the star from running adrift in a sea that forces you to move on and give up.