Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Sea Stars And People, Sand Star (astropecten Irregularis): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Physical Characteristics

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Behavior And Reproduction

Flexible bodies and suckered tube feet keep sea stars firmly in place so they can withstand the force of crashing waves. Their flexibility also allows the stars to assume a variety of positions to capture and handle prey and closely follow irregular surfaces in search of food. The flexibility also helps sea stars upright themselves if they are overturned. Sea stars use two different feeding method…

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Sea Stars And People

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Sand Star (astropecten Irregularis): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Most sand stars are 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) across, but those in deep water can be as large as 8 inches (20 centimeters) across. Sand stars are pale violet to yellowish and have five arms that form stiff angles. These stars have upper and lower plates fringed with small spines. The tube feet are pointed and have no suckers. Geographic range: Sand stars live in…

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Crown-of-thorns (acanthaster Planci): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Crowns-of-thorns are about 16 inches (40 centimeters) across and have ten to thirty arms covered in thorn-like spines, which are venomous. These sea stars are red and green, and the spines have reddish tips. Young crowns-of-thorns have camouflage coloring. Geographic range: Crowns-of-thorns live in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Habitat: Adult crowns-of-thorns live on ope…

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Blue Starfish (linckia Laevigata): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Blue starfish have five arms and can be as large as 12 inches (30 centimeters) across. Adults are brilliant blue. The young are bluish green or purplish with dark spots. Geographic range: Blue starfish live in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Habitat: Blue starfish live on coral gravel in direct sunlight, in sand, and under rocks. Diet: Blue starfish graze on waste and smal…

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Northern Pacific Sea Star (asterias Amurensis): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Northern Pacific sea stars are 16 to 20 inches (40 to 50 centimeters) across. They have five arms that are turned up at the tips. These sea stars are rosy brown, yellowish brown, red, or purple. Their underside is very flat. The skin is covered with unevenly arranged spines that have jagged ends. Geographic range: Northern Pacific sea stars live in the western, northern, …

Sea Stars: Asteroidea - Velcro Sea Star (novodinia Antillensis): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Velcro sea stars have ten to fourteen arms with rows of spines and teethlike pinchers. The arms are long and thin. These sea stars are brick red. Geographic range: Velcro sea stars live in the Atlantic Ocean near the West Indies. Habitat: Velcro sea stars live in water 1,970 to 2,625 feet (600 to 800 meters) deep. They attach themselves to steep rocky surfaces in areas wh…