I found this specimen in a sample of seawater from a rock pool (otherwise known as a tidal pool.) Obviously, it's very symmetrical and upon initial observation, I thought I was looking at a starfish - or what some people call a sea star. Though that cannot be because this thing was microscopic. I believe infant starfish are about 1mm across and don't develop the star shape until a little later in life. I admit it also looks similar to a brittle star.
I don't recall exactly but I think these images were shot at 100x and 400x magnification. I'm guessing it's probably vegetation? Though other vegetation that I see under the microscope don't look symmetrical like this and are often quite random with their structure. This thing was also very unique and different to the other vegetation that was in the same sample.
Unusual star-shaped specimen in seawater
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There are also spicules from sponges. See for example
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... d6849cfa18
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... d6849cfa18
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters
Dept. of Still Waters