| There are many different types of sea stars
with many different shapes, colors and sizes. Most sea stars
have five arms or multiples of five. The arms radiate from a
central disc. A few species have multiples of six. |
| Their backs are covered with knobby spines and their undersides
with rows of tiny tube feet. Each tube foot is tipped with a
small suction cup which helps it hang on tight to things and
pry open mussels or clams. It can stay motionless on a rock for
weeks. |
| Sea stars eat by inserting their inside-out stomach into
a shell and digesting their prey. When the meal is done they
retract their stomach back into their bodies. |
| Diet |
barnacles, chitons, snails, urchins, limpets,
sponges and sea anemones |
| Size |
wide variety of sizes |
| Color |
wide variety of colors |
| Life Cycle |
larva |
| Predators |
birds, sea otters and humans who collect them |
| Neat Facts |
When they lose an arm, it can grow back. When eating, the
sea star may turn its stomach inside out to reach into the shell
of its prey. |
| Types |
red stars, fragile stars, blood stars, brittle stars, knobby
star, ochre, six rayed star, bat stars |
| Relatives |
sea urchins, sand dollars, sea cucumbers |
|
