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There
are approximately 1800 different species of the common starfish,
none of which can be classified as fish, despite their name.
The starfish is an amazing animal, surviving without the
benefit of eyes, ears or a nose. Despite all this, they
continue to thrive. This star-shaped carnivorous animal
is usually a dull yellow or orange, but can also be brightly
colored.
As a natural defense mechanism, the starfish is able to
change its body color to hide or escape from predators.
Starfish vary greatly in size from under 1/2 inch to over
3 feet. The arms of the starfish are used for movement,
catching prey and digestion. Unlike other animals, the starfish
is able to grow a new arm if one is lost. Many starfish
have five arms, but there are some deep-water species that
carry more than fifty. The starfish's arms surround a small
disc-like body, which houses a mouth in the center of the
underside of the body.
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