Starfish

Common / Forbes’ Sea Star (Asterias forbesii) Sea stars, or “starfish” as they are more commonly called, are one of the most easily recognizable animals found in shallow waters around the world. Common sea stars typically have five arms that extend from the center of the body and are orange to brown in color.  All sea stars have suckers lining the underside of each arm.  These suckers secure the sea star to rocks and other hard surfaces in order to prevent themselves from being carried away by tides and strong currents.  The common sea star detects movement of predators and prey using eye spots located at the tips of their arms.  These sea stars are carnivores, feeding on shellfish like mussels and clams and other slow moving marine invertebrates.  The mouth of the sea star is actually located on the underside of the central disc of the body.  Using their suckers, sea stars attach to the two halves of a bivalve shell and apply pressure until the halves are pulled apart. Once the shell is open, the sea star everts its stomach into the shell, externally digests the prey, and then absorbs it into the stomach.   Sea stars also have amazing regenerative capabilities.  Predators, like bottom-feeding fish and some crabs, often bite off arms of sea stars.  However, when a sea star loses one or more of its arms it can re-grow them, as long as enough of the main body survives.   Sea stars are found in rocky tide pools, as well as around pilings and jetties, but they can also be seen along the sea floor.  Sea stars are generally safe to handle, and if you do pick one up, be sure to place it back where you found it with suckers on the bottom. Set as favorite Bookmark Email This Hits: 1688 Trackback(0) TrackBack URI for this entry Comments (1) Subscribe to this comment's feed ocean said: thank you so much for all of this valuable information...you really helped me out because i am finding it really hard to find a lot of starfish info in one place like this or even in and bunch of different places because everyone has just one fact and sometimes they are all the same fact! so once again thanks and keep up the info giving and i promise i will keep using it and thanking you!   report abuse vote down vote up November 25, 2007 Votes: +0 Write comment Name Email Comment smaller | bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment

Last Updated ( Monday, 10 March 2008 )

 

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