Help defend free speech and free scientific inquiry in the U.S. Sign the Academic Freedom Petition.

Sunflower starfish

From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science

Sunflower starfish

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Asteroidea Order: Forcipulatida Family: Asteriidae Genus: Pychopodia Species: P. helianthoides
Binomial Name
Pychopodia helianthoides

Largest and fastest sea star found in the Pacific Northwest, up to 40" in diameter. When young they have six arms, but as they age new arms are added until there are more than 20.[1]

1 Anatomy
2 Reproduction
3 Ecology
4 References
5 See Also

Anatomy

A close up of a sunflower starfish's arm

Part of the Anatomy is the tube foot. This body structure is used to help the organism move and to capture its prey. In doing this the tube foot acts like a suction cup, so the food gets attached. Moves rapidly on tube feet, up to 6' a minute when hunting for food. Along with its tube foot, it also has 24 arms and can reach over 2 feet.

Reproduction

The Sunflower starfish produces by releasing gametes into the water for external fertilization. Gametes are discharged into the water for external fertilization. [2]

Ecology

Habitat

Soft bottoms and rocky shores, subtidal to 1450'. Enters intertidal waters to forage.

Diet

A voracious feeder, preying on many large clams and crustaceans. Often digs out butterclams and leaves pits in sandy areas. A sunflower star can swallow an entire sea urchin, digest it internally and then expel the urchin's test - its external shell. Essentially crab, sea cucumbers, snails, chitons, bivalve mollusks, purple sea urchins, other sea stars. Has been observed to feed on dead squid and dead fish.