Crossaster

The genus Crossaster refers to a group of brightly colored starfishes belonging to the family Solasteridae. These marine invertebrates are commonly known as sun stars and are characterized by having numerous short rays, often with a sunburst-patterned disk.12

Crossaster species are found in northern waters and can have many arms, with some, like the spiny sun star (Crossaster papposus), having as many as 15 arms. They are part of the broader class Asteroidea, which includes all sea stars, known for their distinct central disk and surrounding arms. Sea stars typically have five arms, but Crossaster can have more. They use tube feet for movement and can regenerate lost arms.2