Anatomy of the Starfish Facts

A lot of starfish facts talk about the anatomy of this sea creature. The shape of the common starfish which is what people perceive as a star is already interesting as it is. But if you look into the structure both internal and external parts of the starfish, you will really be fascinated by this animal.

Just like humans, the starfish has different skin layers such as the epidermis and the dermis. But they also have an epithelium layer where the muscles can be found. One of the most interesting aspects of the anatomy of a starfish is the vascular system. Starfishes are not mammals so they do not have blood. Instead, the vascular system makes use of seawater to aid in its movement, gas intake, adhesion, and the handling of food. The body of the starfish is filled with canals where water flows in and out of the system.

But even without actual red blood, the starfish still has a circulatory system with a heart that constantly beats at a rate of 6 times in one minute. The movement of the fluid in this system aids in spreading nutrients in the body but has no connection with respiration unlike humans.

Locating a Starfish

If you want to find a starfish, go to a nearby rocky beach. Typically, starfish stick to underwater rocks near the seashore. This is the best area to locate these wonderful marine creatures. It is a good idea to look forward to low tide. It is at low tide that the sea reveals a lot of rocks, which have been underwater. In addition, it leaves behind rock pools where there is a vast variety of sea creatures. The best time More...

Feeding a Red Starfish

When considering feeding a red starfish, you need to observe the animal to see what it is and it is not eating. A red starfish could be feeding on bacteria out of your aquarium glass, but steering away from other foods that you provide for other inhabitants in your tank. As an omnivore, the starfish must be given nutrients from the two sources. If frozen, your food will have to be thawed. Use tweezers or forceps for putting a thawed More...

Starfish Facts on its Importance in Nature

A lot of people see starfishes as cute animals by the seashore that you can pick up and take pictures of. But there is actually more to these creatures than just their appearances and colors. Not a lot of people understand starfish facts especially about their contribution to nature. Just like any other animal in the marine kingdom, they contribute a lot in Eco diversity and in keeping the food chain running. Scientists and biologists actually called starfishes as keystone More...

Starfish Facts

Starfish, also popularly recognized equally as sea stars, common name for 5 orders and about 1500 living species of marine invertebrate characterized by radially arranged arms having locomotory tube feet. Actually, starfish cannot be considered as fish in spite of the name provided to these sea animals. Some known starfish facts are that they belong to the group called echinoderms. They can be found in great numbers in the depths of the ocean and as well as in shallow waters. More...

Dissecting a Starfish

When considering dissecting a starfish, you must understand that this creature is a sea animal with a proportional endoskeleton. It feeds on mollusks and moves with hundreds of extremely small tube feet. Now, prepare the necessary tools for dissecting the starfish. These include a probe, a scalpel, dissection tray, scissors and pins. You must wear goggles and protective clothing to cover yourself against debris. Pin your starfish into the tray in such a way that its top view faces you. More...

Researching about Starfish Facts

There will be no starfish facts that people know today if not for the researches and studies done by scientists, zoologists, and biologists. From the time that starfish species were first discovered and studied by humans until today, a wider range of information are already gathered pertaining to these creatures. Researching starfishes is not an easy thing to do since there are thousands of species that are still living. In order to understand the evolution of this creature, researchers would More...

Flattening Dried Sea Stars

Dried sea stars can make a good inclusion in your beach- or ocean-themed handicraft project. Along with some shells, they can be placed on picture frames and mirrors, and even in glass-top tables and clear lamps. Moreover, a lot of crafters glue dried sea stars onto ornamental nets, which are utilized as hangings on the wall. It is possible to make a dried starfish flat by first rehydrating it then repositioning its limbs. You can make use of this method More...

Other Cool Starfish Facts

There are various marine creatures, such as manta rays and sharks, which can prey on starfishes and penetrate their solid skin. There are species of birds that can feed on starfishes, which come too close to the water surface. The larger starfish species may sometimes feed on smaller marine species. The lifespan of a starfish can be up to thirty-five years if it is able to get away from its numerous predators. What makes the starfish very different from most More...

Starfish Facts on Environmental Dangers and Threats

According to zoologists who study starfishes and their impact to the environment, these sea creatures have a very important role in the oceans. They may look like decorations in the ocean floor but they are actually considered as keystone species because they contribute in creating balance of species under the sea which can be done through predation. With the starfish facts that people already know, it will be a good start to know what these animals do so that people More...