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Starfish Facts

informer | Apr 15, 2011 |

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Interesting Starfish Facts

Here are a few interesting facts about the starfish, also known as the sea stars. I am sure you will find them amusing. Please share your vies about these facts by commenting below.

Currently, there are about 2000 living species of the starfish.

Did you know a single female starfish can lay 2 million eggs at one time. Normally they would lay one million eggs.

They do not have blood. Instead of blood they are equipped with the water vascular system.

Some species of starfish possess the ability to change their sex. All individuals of the species Asterina gibossa are born male but later changing into females.

They have the amazing ability to regenerate their arms. And amazingly, in some cases they can regenerate their full body. Most of their vital organs are located in their arms, so they can grow a completely new sea star just from their arms. Generating a new sea star from a broken arm is known as asexual reproduction.

They do not have a true centralized brain. Have these facts amazed you already? There are some more interesting facts below.

Rays, sharks and other larger fish prey upon starfish.

Did you know that these fish have tube feet which aid them in movement.

The sea stars have eyes which can see to a certain extent. An eye spot is located at the end of each arm. This simple eye looks like a red spot and has the ability to sense light and dark.

Did you know that the sea star has its mouth on the underside? So you will need to turn it upside down to see its mouth.

Depending upon the species, their lifespan can vary from three to twenty-seven years.

They vary in size from 5 to 20 cm.

Some of the common sea star species include carpet sea star, pink sea star, ochre sea star, common starfish, blue sea star, Crown-of-thorns sea star.

Did you know that the Northern Pacific sea star known as gohongaze is considered an edible delicacy.

Did you know that their bony, calcified skin help them with protection from predators?

Oil spills and other similar events that cause water pollution directly affect the starfish population. Water pollution is a big threat to the starfish and other echinoderms. This is because they pump water directly into their bodies via the water vascular system and they have little ability to filter water from toxins and other contaminants.

Did you know that several types of toxins and secondary metabolites have been extracted from several species of the starfish?

It is not necessary for a sea star to always have five arms. Some species can have many more arms for instance the sun star can have up to 40 arms.