All crazy for “Estrella Culona”: this marine star (with the protruding side) has conquered Argentina

In the midst of the depths of the Argentine Sea, during a research expedition, a creature appeared in a short time a viral icon: a bright star with lively color and round -shaped shape that very reminiscent of the B side and precisely for this reason “Estrella Culona”.

The nickname, born from user comments during direct streaming, immediately triggered a wave of memes, compared with cartoons and jokes.

The specimen has been identified as a Happasteter Phrygiana

The sighting took place during an exploration of the conicet aboard the Falkor ship (Too), in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Thanks to the Subastian underwater vehicle, capable of reaching thousands of meters deep, scientists were able to observe the specimen in the foreground, identified as HippaSteria Phrygiana. This species, widespread in the cold and deep waters of the South Atlantic, can reach 30 cm in diameter and stands out for the short arms and the robust body.

The optical illusion that has conquered the web

According to the biologists involved in the expedition, the feature that attracted attention is not a real “rear”, but a combination of interracial folds and dorsal morphology that creates a curious optical effect. Some scholars hypothesize that the compact form may depend on the diet or the presence of gametes. In any case, the similarity with the character Patrick Star has made the rounds of digital platforms.

From science to merchandising

Online success quickly turned into commercial phenomenon. The Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences has put on sale, magnets and official keyboards, exhausted in a few hours. In parallel, independent artists and traders have created cups, shirts and creative versions of the starfish, even with Argentine bikini and flag.

A heritage for research

In addition to media popularity, Estrella Culona has a significant scientific value: it contributes to mapping marine biodiversity and collecting data on the species of depth, of which many remain little known. The specimens collected will be kept in the museum collections and designed to deepen aspects such as reproduction and morphological adaptations.

Don’t you want to lose our news?

You may also be interested in: