Stars of the Sea

Stars of the Sea

We have met sea stars before, but we wanted to learn more about these amazing echinoderms at camp today!

SEA STAR FUN FACTS: 

• There are around 2,000 species of sea stars.
• Some species live up to 35 years.
• They have no brains or blood. They use water throughout their vascular system. The water also helps them move their tube feet.
• Sea stars do have simple eyes that see light and dark.
• Sea stars have little plates of calcium carbonate to help protect them
• These carnivores push their stomachs outside their mouths and digest their food before pulling the stomach back in the body.
• Each arm of the sea star has around 15,000 tube feet. These feet secret a glue like substance to help them attach to rocks.
• Some sea stars- like the sun star, can have up to 50 arms and weigh 11 lbs.
• Like their relatives the brittle stars, they can regenerate arms.

We love sea stars! They come in all sizes and colors- like pink, purple and blue! Do you have a favorite color sea star?