16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Starfish spawning

A female warty sea star (Echinaster Callosus) spawns bright orange eggs that will be carried away with the currents and will later on be fertilized and develop into a larvae in the open sea. In the background, many sea-lilies cover the coral reef, as typical for this area in the late hours of the night.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2017
Date Uploaded: 08.2018
Photo Location: Eilat, Israel
Camera: DSC-RX100M4
Copyright: © Tom Shlesinger