A spectacular, close-up look at the starfish with a ‘hands-on’ approach to parenting

Most starfish take a rather laissez-faire approach to parenting, releasing millions of sperm and eggs into the water. This somewhat scattershot means of reproduction is known as broadcast spawning. However, as this video from the science documentary series Deep Look details, the six-rayed sea star (Leptasterias hexactis), which stands out among starfish for its extra ‘arm’ and diminutive size, is also rare for its active approach to raising its young. Capturing its lifecycle via stunning 4K microscopy, this video explores how, like many birds, these starfish ‘brood’, keeping their offspring close until they’re ready to venture out on their own. By tending to far fewer offspring than their broadcast spawning cousins, while giving them a far higher chance of survival, these fascinating sea creatures demonstrate there are myriad ways to parent in the animal kingdom – even among quite similar animals.