Sunflower Sea Star - Fascinating Facts About Starfish

#ocean Sunflower sea stars are the fastest moving and among the largest sea stars in the world. They can move up to 1 meters per minute by using 15,000 tube feet which located on the undersides of their bodies. Sunflower stars are common in the northeast Pacific from Alaska to Southern California. They generally inhabit low subtidal and intertidal areas rich in seaweed or kelp. This species starts it life with five or six arms, but these multiply as it grows to 15 to 24 arms as an adult. They can grow to have an arm span of 1 m in diameter. They also vary in color, some are yellow like a sunflower, while others are red, brown or purple. Sunflower stars are carnivorous and their diet includes numerous species such as sea urchins, clams, snails, sea cucumbers, and other sea stars. With the amount of rays they have, they are able to extend its mouth enough to get large prey. Like all starfish, sunflower star have the ability to regenerate their own arms. When they comes into contact with a predator, it may lose its arm or have it amputated to avoid a predator. Most species of sea stars have a mesh-like skeleton that protects their internal organs. The lifespans of most sunflower sea stars is three to five years. Although the species had been widely distributed throughout the northeast Pacific, its population has rapidly declined since 2013. The Chinese Hopping Vampires Of Mythology Hammerhead Shark - Weirdest Sea Monster Of The Ocean Otzi The Iceman - The Oldest Preserved...