The starfish, one of the most beautiful aquatic animals, is a highly peculiar being with a wide spectrum of colors. In addition, it is a wonderfully diverse creature. Although its appearance makes it seem like a peaceful being, it can be fierce and aggressive when threatened. Let us dive together into the world of this amazing creature.
In this Article about starfish in TekeTrek Website, we will introduce you to the most important information related to this object. Follow along with us.
Facts about Starfish
Starfish are marine animals shaped like stars, which is why they are named starfish. Scientific name: Asteroidea.
- Scientific classification of starfish is not considered a type of fish, despite living underwater. This means they do not have fins for swimming, nor do they breathe through gills.
- Starfish are invertebrates, meaning they lack a spinal column.
- They belong to the echinoderm’s family, characterized by having clear spines on their skin.
- Starfish consist of a central disc and several arms. The number of arms varies by species, ranging from 5 to 20 arms, and can reach up to 40 arms. However, the common number of arms for a starfish is five.
- Starfish do not have eyes like other marine creatures. Instead, they rely on a system of tubes and water feet on the surface of their bodies for sensing and interacting with their surrounding environment. These tubes contain sensory cells that respond to changes in the environment, such as light, touch, and chemicals in the water.
- Their types vary in shape, meaning there are flat, disc-shaped, spherical, elongated, and star-shaped varieties.
- There are many types of starfish, with more than 2000 species differing in shape and color around the world.
Scientific classification of starfish
Named for their starry appearance, starfish are part of the phylum Echinodermata, related to sand dollars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. Echinoderms are found in various marine habitats and constitute a large proportion of the biomass. It belongs to the class of asteroid stars, “Aster” It refers to star and “Eidos” means shape or appearance.
Starfish Characteristics
- One of the most common features of starfish is that they live without a brain, meaning they lack both a mind and a heart. Seawater takes the place of blood in their bodies.
- A small mouth is located on the underside of the starfish’s body. Consequently, starfish cannot consume large amounts of food.
- Starfish haS 2 stomachs: a cardiac and a pyloric. These stomachs are responsible for digesting food outside the body. The cardiac stomach can often be seen hanging outside the starfish’s body.
- Additionally, starfish possess tube feet that extend over the external surface of their bodies. They use these tube feet to release venom for self-defense against any threats. Furthermore, the tube feet help them remove algae and other attached organisms.
- Thousands of tube feet are found on the lower side of a starfish’s body. These colorless tube feet end in suction cups, allowing the starfish to control and retain its prey.
- The length of a starfish typically reaches about 40 centimeters, while its arm span can be up to 44 centimeters.
Habitat of Starfish
- Where do starfish live? Starfish exclusively inhabit the sea, They cannot be found in freshwater environments. This means they live only in saltwater, If placed in freshwater, they would not survive.
- They reside near the shore, at depths of around 80 meters in the ocean. Additionally, starfish may be found on rocks close to the shore.
- These creatures come in various colors and shapes. Some appear in shades of red, purple, or orange, while others exhibit different hues.
Reproduction of Starfish
Starfish have two main methods of reproduction:
- Sexual Reproduction:
In this process, males and females release fertilized cells into the water, which develop into new starfish embryos.
- Asexual Reproduction:
Some starfish species can reproduce through fission, where a starfish divides its body into smaller pieces that develop into new starfish.
Furthermore, most starfish species reproduce during the warmer seasons.
The regeneration property of starfish
Starfish have the ability to regenerate limbs and sometimes entire bodies. Starfish accomplish the process of regeneration by placing most or all of their vital organs in their arms, provided the central body is intact in order for them to regenerate. so:
- Most starfish species can regenerate or regrow damaged or lost arms.
- They can also shed arms as a defense, so if one arm is damaged by a predator such as another starfish or a crab, the starfish can break off that arm and grow a new, healthy arm.
- Or if a predator grabs a starfish with one arm, it can detach the arm as a means of escaping the predator.
- Some species can grow an entirely new starfish from just part of a severed tip.
Regeneration is one way starfish have remained abundant in the diverse marine world, but a syndrome known as starfish wasting disease can cause the animal to lose limbs and eventually disintegrate, leaving behind a pile of white gunk.
Starfish Diet
- Starfish are carnivorous marine organismsWhat do starfish eat?
- They feed on marine mollusks, arthropods, and worms. Additionally, bivalves and mussels are common prey for starfish.”
Benefits of starfish
- Starfish contribute to cleaning the environment by consuming dead muscles and marine tissues.
- Due to their variety and colors, they are used in decorations and homes as part of the adornment.
- It is said that some types of starfish contain compounds used in treating certain diseases. For example, the external body of the starfish contains an adhesive substance that helps treat some types of fevers and arthritis in humans.
- Starfish contribute to improving water quality because they feed on algae and marine organisms.
Defensive adaptations
Starfish have developed effective defense mechanisms to help protect themselves:
It has tough, prickly, armor-like skin.
Some of them also have eye-catching colors that camouflage themselves among plants and coral reefs, or scare away potential attackers.
They are also able to regrow lost or damaged limbs, so if attacked they shed their arm to escape the predator.
They also have calcified bony skin that protects them from most predators.
How a starfish moves
The starfish has thousands of tube-shaped feet on its ventral side that contain specialized cells for adhesion, and in the process of “gluing and disengaging”, the starfish can use these feet to move across the surface.
Each foot contains two groups of secretory cells that secrete compounds that allow the foot to first adhere and then detach from the surface.
Next, the first group of cells release an adhesive that attaches the outer fuzzy layer of the tube foot to the surface or ocean floor.
They then release a substance from a second type of secretory cell that enables the foot to lift off from the ocean floor or other surfaces.
Interesting Facts About Starfish
- There are poisonous types of starfish, such as the crown-of-thorns starfish.
- Some types of starfish have the ability to regenerate parts of their bodies if damaged. These regenerated parts can develop into entirely new starfish.
- Starfish are considered difficult marine creatures to catch. This is because the starfish has a soft and undulating body, which makes it easily slip away when a fisherman catches it if not handled carefully. Additionally, since starfish live in the depths of the oceans and on rocks near the seabed, they are difficult to reach.
- Average age is 35 years.
- The movement of starfish is very slow. If scared, it will shed its arms to protect itself from predators.
- Consuming starfish can cause poisoning and even death.
Types of Starfish
- Sunflower Sea Star: The largest starfish on the planet, characterized by up to 24 arms, with an arm radius reaching 60 cm. It eats a lot of clams, snails, and sea urchins. Additionally, it is very fast and lives along the North American coast.
- Royal Starfish: Called royal due to its purple and gold color. It is found along the North American coast.
- Feather Starfish: Can be found in shallow waters. It is a species of starfish that includes 550 types of invertebrates.
- Brittle Star or Serpent Star: This type is characterized by long, slender arms, usually five in number, with an arm diameter reaching one meter.
- Giant Starfish: Has an arm radius of up to 30 cm. This type is characterized by its brown color, covered with what resembles colorful beads.
- Pink Starfish: Has arms with a radius of 32 cm. It feeds on a wide range of bivalves.
- Orthasterias koehleri: Characterized by long, slender arms with a radius of 21 cm.
- Leptasterias equalis: Has an arm radius of only 4 cm. It feeds on sea cucumbers and small scallops. Additionally, females of this species do not feed while incubating eggs.
- Bat Star: The bat star is characterized by broad, short arms; the arm radius for this type of starfish is 10 centimeters, and it is carnivorous in addition to scavenging.
- Mediaster aequalis: Has an arm radius of 10 cm. It has a shiny reddish-orange color and arms that are triangular in shape.
- Leather Star: Has a smooth surface. It appears in several colors such as brown with red spots or orange spots, and these stars feed on a range of invertebrates.
- Pacific Blood Star: Has long, slender arms with a radius of 8 cm.
- Chocolate Chip Starfish: Covered with small brown bumps. This starfish uses its appearance to protect other small marine creatures, such as shrimp and fragile small stars that live on its surface.
The most frequently asked questions about starfish
- What color is starfish?
The common starfish is usually orange or brownish in color, and sometimes violet; specimens found in deeper waters are pale.
- How long can a starfish last out of water?
Starfish can resist between 3 and 5 minutes out of the water before dying.
- How does a starfish sleep?
Unlike you and I, they don’t need to sleep, and they don’t. Some starfish are in fact always moving, as they are scavengers collecting food.
- Is starfish poisonous?
Yes, starfish is poisonous and it may cause dieth.
- Is starfish a fish or not?
No, starfish is not fish.
In conclusion
In the end, the starfish, resembling the stars in the sky, remains a distinctive aesthetic piece. It is one of the sensitive-colored creatures that combines delicacy, simplicity, and elegance. In addition, the starfish, which lacks a brain, teaches us to trust our intuition and rely on our instincts to survive.
