Starfish
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Starfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. About 1,500 living species of starfish occur on the seabed in all the world's oceans, from the tropics to subzero polar waters. They are found from the intertidal zone down to abyssal depths, 6,000 m (20,000 ft) below the surface.
Starfish are among the most familiar of marine invertebrates. They typically have a central disc and five arms, though some species have more than this. The aboral or upper surface may be smooth, granular or spiny, and is covered with overlapping plates. Many species are brightly coloured in various shades of red or orange, while others are blue, grey or brown. Starfish have tube feet operated by a hydraulic system and a mouth at the centre of the oral or lower surface. They are opportunistic feeders and are mostly predators on benthic invertebrates. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry Get back to Echinodermata | |||
Bat star | Biscuit star | Blue bat star | Blue Linckia |
Common comet star | Common starfish | Common sunstar | Crown-of-thorns starfish |
Edmond's sea star | Horned sea star | Icon star | Mediterranean red sea star |
Necklace starfish | Northern Pacific sea star | Ocellate sea star | Purple sunstar |
Red sea star | Rose sea star | Sunflower sea star |