A sea star, commonly but erronously called a starfish, clings to the side of a glass aquarium with thousands of tiny orange-colored tube feet on the undersides of its five arms. The unique feet are used to move around and to hold onto prey. These star-shaped echinoderms are marine invertebrates, not fish, and have tough, spiny skin for protection. The sea animals have the remarkable ability to grow back any arm that has been broken off; this regeneration can take about a year. While five arms is most common, some of the more than 2,000 species of sea stars have 10, 20, and even 50 arms.
A sea star, commonly but erronously called a starfish, clings to the side of a glass aquarium with thousands of tiny orange-colored tube feet on the undersides of its five arms. The unique feet are used to move around and to hold onto prey. These star-shaped echinoderms are marine invertebrates, not fish, and have tough, spiny skin for protection. The sea animals have the remarkable ability to grow back any arm that has been broken off; this regeneration can take about a year. While five arms is most common, some of the more than 2,000 species of sea stars have 10, 20, and even 50 arms.
Size: 3400px × 2550px
Location: Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Sarasota, Florida, USA
Photo credit: © Michele and Tom Grimm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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