Fun Facts About Starfish — Passage and Quiz

Starfish, despite their name, are not fish at all but fascinating echinoderms with an array of surprising characteristics. These marine animals lack blood in the traditional sense, instead using a water vascular system to circulate nutrients and oxygen. Some species of starfish can live for an impressive 35 years or more in the wild. Remarkably, starfish navigate their underwater world without a centralized brain, relying on a complex nervous system that allows them to detect food, avoid predators, and even exhibit basic learning behaviors. Their ability to regenerate lost arms is another captivating feature, with some species capable of regrowing an entire body from a single arm. These unique attributes of starfish not only make them popular subjects in marine biology studies but also serve as excellent examples of the diverse and often unexpected adaptations found in ocean ecosystems.