However, many species simply have very big, sharp spines that make putting the animal into one's mouth a very costly and unpleasant lesson. As a result, these animals are out in the open and in the deep-sea, that makes them vulnerable to predators. Many of these sea stars are either scavengers or feed by lowering their stomachs onto the sea bottom and finding snails and clams to eat. A Latin word which translates into 'spiny skin.' And indeed, MANY members of the group possess very sharp and well-developed spines, which are thought to be used primarily for defense. Sea stars (also called starfish) are members of the phylum Echinodermata. Some starfish species have chemical based defenses such as slime (see below), others have bad tasting or toxic chemicals in their body wall, while others have physical deterrents such as spines or armor.įor a general account on sea star defenses, visit this page.

What feeds on sea stars? This is not well known for all sea stars, but in shallow-water habitats, sea stars often defend themselves against fish. So what behavior/structural features have evolved to keep them from being devoured? Some are predators while others are scavengers, but they aren’t known for their rapid movements. Sea stars are among some of the most ecologically important of marine invertebrates. Christopher Mah, Research Collaborator - Smithsonian Institution Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibilityīy Dr.

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