Starfish


 * Starfish **

Starfish have a very simple life cycle. The female lays eggs in the water and the male releases millions of sperm which fertilises the eggs.

Starfish move by using a water pumping system. This is connected to their feet.They draw water in and pump it out to lengthen or shorten their feet. This enables them to climb and cling to rocks.

Most starfish are predators and they love to eat mussels. They hold the mussel in their arms and pull it apart with hundreds of their feet working in relays. At the same time the starfishes stomach also secrets an acid fluid which puts the mussel to sleep. When the mussel is pulled apart the starfish extrudes its stomach through its mouth and digests the mussel.

Starfish are very clever and they can re grow severed arms.

**Sea stars and sea urchins belong to the same group called echinoderms. **

Cushion Stars The most common starfish are cushion stars. You will find them in rock pools. They cling tightly to rocks or under stones.

They have five arms and their colours range from yellow to purple. Greyish green is the most usual colour.

Cushion stars have tube feet tipped with suckers. These are on the underside of their arms.

They browse on filmy green seaweeds and digest them by extruding their stomach over them. They also feed on matter found on the bottom of the sandy pools.