Did you know? Sea stars have no brains and no blood. source
Did you know? Sea stars have no brains and no blood.
Most starfish have five arms that radiate from a central disc, but the number varies with the group. source
Most starfish have five arms that radiate from a central disc, but the number varies with the group.
The body wall of starfish consists of a thin cuticle, an epidermis consisting of a single layer of cells. source
The body wall of starfish consists of a thin cuticle, an epidermis consisting of a single layer of cells.
Average life span of the starfish in the wild is Up to 35 years. source
Average life span of the starfish in the wild is Up to 35 years.
Most species are generalist predators, eating microalgae, sponges, bivalves, snails and other small animals source
Most species are generalist predators, eating microalgae, sponges, bivalves, snails and other small animals
The startfish lines of defence are the saponins present in their body walls, which have unpleasant flavours. source
The startfish lines of defence are the saponins present in their body walls, which have unpleasant flavours.
There are some 2,000 species of sea star living in all the world’s oceans, from tropical habitats to the cold seafloor. source
There are some 2,000 species of sea star living in all the world’s oceans, from tropical habitats to the cold seafloor.
Starfish produce a large number of secondary metabolites in the form of lipids, including steroidal derivatives of cholesterol, and fatty acid amides of sphingosine. source
Starfish produce a large number of secondary metabolites in the form of lipids, including steroidal derivatives of cholesterol, and fatty acid amides of sphingosine.
Starfish have tube feet operated by a hydraulic system and a mouth at the centre of the oral or lower surface. source
Starfish have tube feet operated by a hydraulic system and a mouth at the centre of the oral or lower surface.
Although sea stars live underwater and are commonly called "starfish," they are not fish. They do not have gills, scales, or fins like fish do and they move quite differently from fish. source
Although sea stars live underwater and are commonly called "starfish," they are not fish. They do not have gills, scales, or fins like fish do and they move quite differently from fish.
Sea stars can regenerate lost arms. This is useful if the sea star is threatened by a predator - it can drop an arm, get away and grow a new arm. source
Sea stars can regenerate lost arms. This is useful if the sea star is threatened by a predator - it can drop an arm, get away and grow a new arm.
The starfish has two stomachs. The cardiac stomach eats the food outside the starfish’s body
Starfish found from the intertidal zone down to abyssal depths, 6,000 m (20,000 ft) below the surface. source
Starfish found from the intertidal zone down to abyssal depths, 6,000 m (20,000 ft) below the surface.
The fossil record for starfish is ancient, dating back to the Ordovician around 450 million years ago, but it is rather poor, as starfish tend to disintegrate after death. source
The fossil record for starfish is ancient, dating back to the Ordovician around 450 million years ago, but it is rather poor, as starfish tend to disintegrate after death.
Some species of starfish have the ability to regenerate lost arms and can regrow an entire new limb given time. source
Some species of starfish have the ability to regenerate lost arms and can regrow an entire new limb given time.
Sometimes starfish at the full moon time, when the moon is really dazzling and hitting on the ocean, a starfish jumps out of the water and falls down. source
Sometimes starfish at the full moon time, when the moon is really dazzling and hitting on the ocean, a starfish jumps out of the water and falls down.
With its multiple arms, the starfish provides a popular metaphor for computer networks,companies and software tools. It is also the name of a seabed imaging system and company. source
With its multiple arms, the starfish provides a popular metaphor for computer networks,companies and software tools. It is also the name of a seabed imaging system and company.
The body wall consists of a thin cuticle, an epidermis consisting of a single layer of cells, a thick dermis formed of connective tissue and a thin coelomic myoepithelial layer, which provides the longitudinal and circular musculature. source
The body wall consists of a thin cuticle, an epidermis consisting of a single layer of cells, a thick dermis formed of connective tissue and a thin coelomic myoepithelial layer, which provides the longitudinal and circular musculature.