Blue sea star - the starfish that grows new arms

Blue sea stars live on coral reefs throughout the Pacific and Indian oceans.

This species is known for having a bright blue hue when it's in full maturity, which comes from a pigment called linckiacyanin.

These sea stars are recognized by scientists for having a powerful ability to regenerate. Like many sea stars, they can grow new arms to replace limbs eaten or damaged by predators. But detached limbs from a blue sea star can even grow into new, individual sea stars.

This regeneration process can sometimes lead to multiple limbs growing in the place of one that has been removed, so it’s not uncommon to see sea stars with five or more arms, as is the case with this specimen.