Морская звезда

A young, hungry sea star appears to open its mouth wide as its transparent tube feet grasp for morsels.

Marine biologist Bruno Vellutini of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil said the sea star, or starfish, was imaged under 40 times magnification shortly after it had metamorphosed into a juvenile.

Vellutini entered the picture in the 2009 Small World Photomicrography Competition because he liked the contrast of the colors and the sense of movement evoked by the tube feet, he said in a statement.

"Also, because my girlfriend found it very cute."