Some Interesting Facts About Starfish

Starfish are stunning marine animals found in an exceedingly wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. As of this instant, there are not any sea star species that are vulnerable. Here are our top ten sea star facts that you didn't know before.


1 - Sea stars aren't fish.

Starfish

Although sea stars live underwater and are ordinarily referred to as "starfish," they're not true fish. They lack gills, scales, and fins that fish have. Sea stars don’t have a backbone, and they behave very differently than fish. Whereas fish use their tails to propel themselves, sea stars use their little tube feet to propel themselves. Scientists refer to them as "sea stars" because they are not classified as fish.


2 - Starfish dine in a really distinctive way.

Starfish

A sea star has its mouth in the middle of its lower surface. It use suction cups on the bottom of its feet to help it hang on to its meal. Once it's feeding on a clam or an oyster, for example, it uses its feet to open it up. Once it's opened, the starfish’s abdomen goes out of its mouth and pushes itself inside the mussel shell or clam.


3 - Starfish are related to sea urchins.

Sea Star

Starfish belong to the same phylum as sea urchins and sea cucumbers, meaning they're associated with each other. All echinoderms have five-point correspondence; their bodies have five distinct sections. Look closely at any echinoderm (especially underneath), and you'll notice a similar "star shape" that is extremely distinct.


4 - 
Not every sea star has five arms.

Starfish

While many of us are most familiar with the five-armed species of sea stars, not all starfish have simply five arms. Some species have more, like the sun star, which might have up to forty arms.


5 - Starfish have eyes.

Starfish

Yes, that is right; sea stars have eyes. Sea stars, unlike humans, have an eye on the tip of each of their arms. The eye does not see many details, but it does detect light and dark.


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Starfish

Amazingly, a sea star will regenerate lost arms. This will be helpful if vulnerable to a predator—it can drop an arm, escape, and grow a replacement arm. A lion grabs your leg and bites it off, and you run away to grow a replacement leg; no harm is done. Sea stars have most of their important organs in their arms; thus, some will even regenerate completely new animals from only one arm and a little of the star's central disc. The dangerous news is that this may be a slow method and take up to a year to grow back. Not cool.


7 - Sea stars have no blood.

Sea Star

Instead of blood, sea stars have a vascular system created primarily of seawater. Seawater is pumped into the animal's water system through its sieve plate. This is often a form of crystal referred to as "madreporite," usually visible as an achromatic spot on the highest part of the sea star. Seawater moves into the sea star's tube feet from the madreporite, causing the arm to grow.


8 - Starfish can live for up to 35 years.

Starfish

A starfish or sea star has a 35-year average lifespan. Though, generally, the larger sea star species tend to measure longer compared to their smaller counterparts.


9 - The starfish's fertilization happens within the water.

Starfish

Amphimixis of the sea star occurs in the water, with females and males releasing cathartic sperm cells and eggs into the environment, also known as "free spawning." Once the sperm and egg float toward each other and make contact, fertilization starts. Starfish can also reproduce asexually by fission or arm autotomy.


10 - Starfish will feel pain.

Sea Stars

Despite the fact that sea stars lack a heart, blood, or brain, they will feel pain or be injured as a result of their superior system, contrary to popular belief.

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