This Nine-armed Sea star (Luidia senegalensis) "choked for life" on the shell of a Sunray Venus (Macrocallista nimbosa). Many species of Sea Stars are known to feed on clams; the Sea Star distends the end of its gut to feed on the mollusk, and sometimes the shell gets stuck in the process. The Sea Star was able to continue living, growing "around" the shell. The Sea Star was found by Museum friend Regina Salis (Rochester, NY) during the first week of March 2014, on Sanibel.
Two views of the Nine-armed Sea Star and its Sunray Venus, showing the Sea Star top on left and its bottom (with mouth) on right. Photo by José H. Leal.