Marine scientists have decided to change the starfish’s name with sea star because, well, the starfish is not a fish. It’s an echinoderm, related to sea urchins. Sea stars dont have any brains or blood. Their "blood" is really filtered sea water! They are usually a little lareger than a tea cup and weigh about 11 lbs. the sea star can live up to 35 years in the wild. they are also carnivorous.
They have bony skin, which protects them from most predators, and many wear bright colors that scare off potential attackers. there are no freshwater sea stars, and only a few live in brackish (less saltey than see water but still not fresh water) water.
There are about 2,000 species of sea stars in all the world’s oceans, they live in all kinds of enviorments from tropic waters to freazing floor. The five-arm varieties are the most common, hence their name, but species with 10, 20, and even 40 arms do exist.
somthing eles the seastars can do that is entirly unique is consume prey outside of their bodys! they do this by first using the suction-cuped feet to pry open the clam or oyster and then through its mouth the star throws out its stomatch and entierly envelops its prey it then digests and withdraws its stomatch.
Along with their imfamous shape, sea stars are famous for their ability to regrow their lmibs, and in some cases, entire bodies! They are able to do this because most or all of their vital oragans lie in their arms . Some require the main body to be intact to regenerate, but a few species can grow an entirely new sea star just from a portion of a severed limb.
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