Leporastra

The Asterilepus mirabilis exhibits fascinating dual behaviors, equally adept at navigating both land and shallow water. On land, it uses its five robust, furry 'rays' to scuttle and climb rocks with surprising agility, often seeking shelter in sandy burrows or rock crevices. Its prominent, twitching rabbit ears are highly sensitive, detecting subtle vibrations from both approaching predators and the rhythmic ebb and flow of tides, crucial for its intertidal existence.

In the water, the Asterilepus transforms, using its hidden tube feet beneath its rays to cling to submerged surfaces or slowly glide across the seabed, grazing on algae and small invertebrates. A remarkable adaptation is its ability to detach and regenerate a lost ray, much like a starfish, a defense mechanism against predators such as large birds of prey or marine mammals. Solitary by nature, they only gather during a brief mating season, with offspring developing in concealed tide pools before venturing out.