Starfish: Stunning Sentinels of the Seas

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With over 1,800 species found in the oceans worldwide and family roots stretching back to almost 535 million years, the starfish has been navigating the seas long before creatures took to the land.

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A vast variety of sea stars are found near the tropical-temperate regions around Australia, the tropical East Pacific, and the cold-temperate water of the North Pacific stretching from California to Alaska. Some are even found near European waters and the eastern coast of the United States.

Panamic Cushion Star

Coiba National Park, Panama

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Above we see a Panamic Cushion Star shot at the Coiba National Park, Panama.

The sea stars usually have five limbs, but some have more or fewer. Specimens of varied number of limbs within the same species have been exhibited. The mouth is located under the starfish; while the upper side has an opening called the madreporite, which provides clean filtered water for the starfish to move.

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Though sea stars have complex nervous systems, they lack a centralized brain. They do not have true eyes per say, but they do have two microscopic light sensitive eyes at the end of each of the arms. The “eyes” allow the starfish to differentiate between light and dark, which is useful to detect movement.

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Most starfish are predators, with diets ranging from clams to oysters. They will even feast on creatures too slow to defend themselves, like old or dying fish. Some species are detritivores, eating decomposed animal and plant material. Others may feed on corals, sponges or even suspended nutritious matter like plankton.

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The starfish are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. One of the most interesting characteristics of the sea stars is their ability to regenerate arms. Some species can regenerate lost limbs. Most species need the centre portions of their bodies to be intact for them to be able to regenerate, though a few sea stars have been known to grow completely out of detached arms!

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The sea stars have existed for millions of years adapting every step of the way, an example of the pure dexterity of these spineless wonders. One of the few creatures I’d like to see in person before I kick the bucket. I leave you with an exquisite macro shot of an awe-inspiring sea star…

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