The Star of the Show

Nature 5 Minutes

Starfish are beautiful marine animals found in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. As of the moment, there are no starfish species that are endangered. Though that definitely sounds like good news, according to the reports, starfish’s numbers are rapidly declining. So, let’s get to know more about them in these starfish facts and how we can protect them.

Starfish are also known as sea stars.

Starfish do have a brain.

They do not have blood or a heart.

Instead of blood, they have a water vascular system. That system pumps seawater through the tube feet and throughout the starfish’s body.

Starfish use filtered seawater to pump nutrients through their nervous system.

Starfish is not a fish.

According to experts, starfish don’t fall in the classification of fish thus, they prefer to call it “sea stars.” Although they lived underwater, they do not have fins, gills, or scales like fish do. Also, the starfish move differently from fish, they have very small tube feet to support them move along.

Starfish or sea star is an echinoderm.

Starfish are classified as echinoderms which are exclusively marine animals. An echinoderm is a marine invertebrate (an organism that doesn’t have a backbone) that has spiny skin.

Corals and clams are the primary food of starfish.

In general, starfish feed on coral, clams, sand dollars, oysters, mussels, algae, and sponges. Furthermore, other species of starfish also eat injured fishes in the ocean if there is a given opportunity. In other words, they are also carnivores.

Starfish eat in a very unique way.

A starfish has its mouth at the center of its lower surface. It uses its feet, which have suction cups on the bottom, to help it hold on to its meal. When it is feeding on a clam or an oyster, for instance, it uses its feet to open it up. Once it is opened, the starfish’s stomach goes out of its mouth and pushes itself inside of the mussel shell or clam.

Starfish can reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Starfish also have a unique life cycle and they can reproduce both sexually and asexually (a type of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes).

Starfish’s fertilization happens in the water.

In sexual reproduction of the starfish, fertilization happens in the water with females and males releasing sperm and eggs into the environment or much known as “free spawning.” The sperm and egg will float until they meet up and fertilize accordingly. Furthermore, asexual reproduction in starfish takes place by fission or through autotomy of arms.

Starfish can regenerate their damaged parts.

Most species of starfish have the ability to regenerate their damaged parts including the regeneration of lost arms. Hence, they can “sacrifice” their arms as a defense mechanism.

They can live up to 35 years.

The average life span of a starfish or sea stars is 35 years. Although in general, the bigger starfish species tend to live longer compared to their smaller counterparts.

Starfish can live in a saltwater aquarium.

Starfish pet owners should know that they are grazers and eat food that has fallen to the bottom of the aquarium or fish tank. Most species like a meaty diet such as clams or mussels since it’s their natural food. Above all, starfish should be kept in the saltwater aquarium along with the proper tank maintenance.

There are square starfish.

One of the most uncommon species of starfish is the square starfish which was discovered in Mathesons Bay, New Zealand, mesmerizing its visitors, as well as marine biologists.

Starfish can feel pain.

Although starfish don’t have blood, heart, and brain, in contrast to the belief of many, starfish can feel pain or get hurt because they have a complex nervous system.

Starfish are generally edible.

There are different opinions about the taste of starfish. Some people argue that it tastes like river crabs or sea urchins, while others say that it tastes nothing. Starfish delicacies are served in sometimes in sushi restaurants or even just in the streets like in Bejing, China.

Starfish or sea stars have eyes.

Though it is not obvious, they do have eyes. Starfish have eyes on the tip of their arms. Each of their arms has an eye that looks like a red spot. These eyes cannot see full details but can sense dark and light which is suitable in their environment.

Starfish have a protective shield.

Commonly, a starfish has a hard covering that may feel leathery and sometimes thorny depending on the species. The composition of starfish or sea stars’ skin is a calcium carbonate plate with little spikes. This serves as their protection from predators such as sea otters, birds, and fish.

Some species can survive out of the water for about 28 hours.

Although there are times that we can see starfish on the shore or attached to rocks and pilings during low tide, they can’t stay out of the water for a long period. Most species of starfish can go out of the water for a short period without harm and the larger species of them can survive out of the water for about 28 hours.

Pink starfish is one of the largest starfish.

The pink starfish, also known as short-spined sea stars or giant pink sea stars are species in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. William Stimson introduced it to science in 1857. The pink starfish are big with five thick arms. Its typical size is 13 inches in diameter. However, some could grow up to 35 inches in diameter and can weigh up to 4 kilograms. The color of it is usually pink but sometimes with grayish shadings.

Royal Starfish live around 70 to 100 feet deep in the ocean.

The Royal Starfish is a brightly colored species of starfish. This species is found along the east coast of North America, mainly in the southeast. Normally, Royal Starfish live around 70 to 100 feet deep in the ocean but they can go deeper more than 600 feet and feasts on mollusks (soft-bodied invertebrates of the phylum Mollusca). In contrast to other species of starfish, the royal starfish eats its prey whole.

Bat Starfish got its name from its webbed arms.

This species of starfish has many names such as bat sea star, webbed star, sea bat, or broad-disk star. This interesting starfish got its name because of its similar look with bat wings where the arms have webbing in between. Normally, the bat starfish have five up to nine arms. Its color ranges from orange to purple to green. You can find this species along the West Coast of North America, from Baja to Alaska.

Nine-Armed starfish is the only species to have a name after its nine arms.

Although it may not be the only starfish to have nine arms, it earned its name. This species in the West Atlantic Ocean is a scavenger and feeds on small shellfish, mollusks, and sea worms. The nine-armed starfish swallows most of their prey whole using its stomach.

The largest starfish is the sunflower starfish or sunflower sea stars.

These huge species in the Northeast Pacific Ocean have arms that can reach a length of 1 meter. They have 16 to 24 arms with powerful suckers. The sunflower starfish have a wide variety of colors such as bright orange, yellow, red to brown, and sometimes to purple. They mostly feed on snails, sea urchins, clams, and other small invertebrates.

SOURCE: Facts.net

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Published by pat frederick

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137 thoughts on “The Star of the Show”

    1. We are having a monsoon season in N FL. Lots of thunder, lightning, rain! My car was dirty dusty, especially the back end, but now it’s been scrubbed sparkling clean – thanks to all the rain and wind.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Good Morning ☀️
      I have stopped trusting agri-monoliths like Mickey D. When they control every aspect from farm to consumer, there is too much opportunity for bad decision making & in the end the consumer is screwed.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Bill!
        tbh i got freaked out with the jokes about “10 billion served” motto…and why their milk shake machines never worked, and the mold found within them.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. The Patriot Voice
    @TPV_John
    The House just got enough votes to impeach Joe Biden.

    There isn’t a SINGLE mention of this on the media. Not ONE.

    When the same happened to Trump it was NON-STOP WALL TO WALL coverage. You couldn’t find a channel that wasn’t covering it.

    Also notable, Biden INTENTIONALLY withheld the knowledge he got from the Navy that the Titan OceanGate sub imploded DAYS ago, to distract from his son. The media went along with that as well.

    MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.

    Liked by 2 people

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    Jewels Jones
    @JewelsJonesLive
    Alright, buckle up folks. We’ve got some new developments in the Hunter Biden case. Apparently, he allegedly failed to pay taxes on a whopping $8.3 million in income, according to IRS whistleblowers. But get this: attempts to bring charges against him in California and Washington D.C. were denied. And U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who prosecuted the case against him, allegedly asked for special counsel status but was denied by the DOJ. The whole thing just screams “preferential treatment” for the pResident’s son, according to longtime IRS investigator Gary Shapley. And just when you thought it couldn’t get more wild, Hunter Biden’s guilty plea this week only relates to $1.5 million in unreported income. Stay tuned for more updates on this insane story.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. commercial division…

    Citizen 817
    June 23, 2023 12:27 am

    @realDonaldTrump

    17h
    My New York State A.G. Case (she ran on “I will get Trump”), which should never have been brought except for ELECTION INTERFERENCE, should rightfully be in the Commercial Division, in front of another Judge, rather than the Trump HATER that refuses to let go of it because he wants to do a number on “TRUMP.” It is all part of the same Witch Hunt, run out of D.C. by the DOJ, just as they ran the now fully debunked & discredited CROSSFIRE HURRICANE fiasco. Mark Pomerantz “played” in this one also!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Citizen 817
    June 23, 2023 12:29 am

    @realDonaldTrump

    9h
    People forget that Ron DeSanctimonious was a BIG LOCKDOWN MAN early on as Governor…

    https://rumble.com/v2vsk60-trump-statement-people-forget-that-ron-desantis-was-a-big-lockdown-man.html

    outhouse counsel
    outhouse counsel
    June 23, 2023 2:40 am
    Reply to Citizen 817

    He put checkpoints on major roads at the Georgia and Alabama borders to keep out non-commercial travelers without a 14-day quarantine. Totally unconstitutional order. Also either deliberately furthering the fear-mongering or else shforbrains stupid.

    https://landline.media/florida-governor-orders-border-checkpoints/
    .

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Liked by 1 person

  17. Liked by 1 person

  18. Liked by 1 person

  20. Liked by 1 person

  21. Liked by 1 person

  22. Jesse Watters
    @JesseBWatters
    We now know why Hunter was let off: this was always about protecting Joe Biden and everyone in Washington was in on it. Hunter threatened to destroy his Chinese business partners, with Joe Biden IN THE ROOM, if he didn’t pay them- according to IRS whistleblowers.

    Democrats are living in their own fantasy world where Hunter’s a victim and Biden’s squeaky clean. No more- it’s time for offense.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. No, Jesse – they aren’t “living in their own fantasy world!” They know full well what’s really going on.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. these are shoes?

    Greg Price
    @greg_price11
    A 15-year-old white kid was beaten up by 6 black dudes between the ages of 14 and 17 while playing basketball on Monday night in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

    A bystander filmed the attack while doing nothing to stop it and posted it on social media.

    Police say they attacked him in order to steal his Yeezy slides.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. more on the submersible conspiracy theory. the first part of the article rehashes what is posted above, but then changes course slightly.
    FTA
    Regarding the New Theory

    If the submersible was intentionally sunk, hidden away, or never even launched at all, I’m not sure if Vorhies has the full picture. Theorizing that this would be the predicate for preventing future expeditions isn’t realistic. Neither the nature nor location of the dive is being blamed for the tragedy, so changing international law over what is being described as a single faulty submarine doesn’t pass the smell test.

    But that doesn’t mean there’s no room for a conspiracy, and one stuck out to me based on a victim. Paul-Henri Nargeolet is known as “Mr. Titanic.” He’s been to the ship 37 times and is widely regarded as THE expert on the topic.

    What if he found something that could prove the ship was intentionally sunk? Before you dismiss this as way out there, here are three facts to consider:
    Nargeolet Had a Bad Experience With OceanGate Before

    This wasn’t Nargeolet’s first time aboard an OceanGate vessel. The last time he went with them, he felt like he was going to die. According to his daughter:

    Nargeolet said her father had made his first trip to the wreck in 1987. On one trip in another vessel operated by U.S.-based OceanGate Expeditions, he told her that he was not sure he would return safely, although he eventually did.

    Why would someone who had already been to the wreckage 36 previous times get onto another OceanGate submersible after being concerned for his life the last time he went with them? What was so pressing? Did he know something new? Was he investigating something he wasn’t supposed to know?
    Nargeolet Specialized in Recovering Vehicles Damaged by Explosives

    Before becoming Mr’ Titanic, Nargeolet specialized in mine clearance for the French Navy. He has traveled the world recovering submerged vessels that had exploded. It would be hard to find anyone on the planet who is better qualified to examine the Titanic and recognize evidence of an explosion rather than iceberg damage.
    Nargeolet Was Director of Underwater Research for the Company That Owns the Rights to Titanic’s Remains

    This seems convenient. According to Daily Mail:

    Nargeolet became the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, which owns the rights to the ship’s remains, and done more than 35 drives to the shipwreck.

    Again, this reinforces that if there are true conspiracies surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, Nargeolet would be the one who had access to the information and skill to process it all.
    So Many Questions

    He knew the risks and had no known burning need to go down a 37th time on a submersible that nearly killed him before. He’s handled as many vessels sunk by explosives as anyone on earth. He worked for the company that literally owns all of the answers if the right questions are asked.

    Did Paul-Henri Nargeolet know something he wasn’t supposed to know? Was he going to reveal something the powers-that-be don’t want revealed? As with so many things associated with the Titanic, we may never get real answers.

    https://thelibertydaily.com/is-a-titanic-conspiracy-theory-tied-to-the-sinking-of-the-billionaire-submersible/

    Like

  29. To be brutally honest….all of this blind, unhinged, automatic support for Israel because “…holocaust…” is pure folly! Israel is no more or less corrupt than any other so-called “democratic” country…and, IIRC, it was Jews who chose to crucify Jesus – they simply used the Romans as their henchmen! So I have often wondered….why? Why do Christians so adamantly protect them? They are not – and were not – as pure as the driven snow….they trade on the Holocaust, ignoring the blatant truth that it was NOT only Jews that were herded into those camps!!!! What is more authoritarian than this??!!??

    EXCERPT: “Legislation introduced last week in Jerusalem would impose three years’ imprisonment to anyone who draws a comparison between events or officials in the Holocaust and events or officials in the State of Israel.

    “Whoever publishes, in writing or orally, comparisons between events, elected officials, symbols of government or organizations to the Nazi regime or for acts committed during the Nazi regime and which are crimes against the Jewish people or crimes against humanity, the penalty is three years imprisonment,” reads the bill.

    The law would be an addendum to the Holocaust Denial Prohibition Act of 1986 which, according to some Knesset lawmakers, does not go far enough.
    ———–
    While the bill’s sponsors claim to be “supporting Holocaust survivors” with their proposed law, several Holocaust survivors might well be indicted if the law were passed. Henny Fischler, for instance, warns that while she no longer sees swastikas, the Nazis have returned in the guise of harsh vaccine and mask mandates — neither of which she obeyed.
    (Video)
    “The Nazis, they didn’t die. They’re still living here in between us, even here in Israel,” said Henny in Never Again is Now Global, a documentary in which several survivors compare COVID-19 mandates to the Holocaust. “I don’t know how they did it, but they are here,” she adds.

    Israel was the first country to experiment Pfizer’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on its population, lauding itself as “a lab for Pfizer”. Israeli officials then instituted harsh vaccine mandates in which they tried to require that bracelets be worn to identify the unvaccinated. Vera Sharav is another Holocaust survivor who has been vocal in comparing Reichstag policies which precipitated the Nuremberg Laws to pandemic policies which violated the Nuremberg Laws.

    As a young girl during the Holocaust, Vera Sharav refused to board an orphans’ boat with the rest of the children and threw a tantrum until she could join a family on their private boat. The orphans’ boat was later torpedoed by Nazis, and none of the children survived.”
    (Video)

    https://www.frontline.news/post/israel-moves-to-ban-learning-holocaust-lessons

    Liked by 1 person

  30. sticking it to the taxpayers again.
    this stuff has to be stopped…is EVERYONE getting kickbacks??

    Winston
    June 23, 2023 8:05 am

    Boeing Charges Pentagon $52,000 For Trash Can Previously Priced At $300
    JUN 22, 2023

    https://www.zerohedge.com/military/boeing-charges-pentagon-52000-trash-can-previously-priced-300

    “In 2020, the Pentagon paid Boeing over $200,000 for four of the trash cans, translating to roughly $51,606 per unit,” reports Responsible Statecraft’s Connor Echols. The next year brought an apparent volume discount: In 2021, the Pentagon bought 11 trash cans at “only” $36,640 each. Together, the price on the two years of purchases represented a whopping $600,000 markup over previous prices.

    Boeing isn’t the only one sticking it to taxpayers. For starters:

    In 2022, New York-based Jamaica Bearings Company sold the Pentagon 13 radio filters. While it had previously priced them at $350 each, this time Jamaica Bearings charged $49,000 each.
    
    Lockheed Martin jacked up the price of an electrical conduit for the P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance plane by upwards of 1400%, raking in an extra $133,000 from 2008 to 2015.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. using a stolen ss# his whole adult life.
      if true would this negate all his EO’s and laws he signed?
      would it strip him of all the presidential perks? no more secret service protection, no more lifetime pension…so more grifting?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. No “if” about it! If corruption negated such things, we wouldn’t have even half the laws on the books that we have now!!! They would ALL be moot!!!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. if he was convicted of a felony he wouldn’t be eligible for the presidency and they could call into question his “birth certificate” and all of it.

          Like

  36. Cats can be so funny sometimes – each one is so unique, I think that may be why I’ve always liked them….been watching every morning for the gray tabby. He’s hanging around more often – Jake was out on the patio yesterday, on the windowsill, watching him wander in the back yard, over by the lilac bush. Earlier, I had put the food dish in it’s usual place but he hadn’t eaten anything so, after a bit, I poured some onto the cement walkway, for him or the Blue Jays, and brought the dish back onto the patio. I noticed some of that was gone a while later, but not much.

    This morning….Jake was out on the windowsill again and I saw gray tabby working his way from the cottonwood tree over to the garden beds. So I put Jake in the bedroom – I certainly don’t need THAT distraction – then put the food dish in the center of the walkway, rather than by the doggie door, where I usually put it. He is already getting programmed….I watched from inside while he came over and settled down next to where I usually put the food….and just waited, looking up at the door now and then. So outside I went – he scuttled off to about 6′ away – and put the dish by the doggie door, then went back inside.

    Within 1 minute, he was at the dish eating!!! He was waiting for me to put it in the appropriate place!!! I went back outside and, of course, he immediately stopped eating and moved away. I sat there for a few minutes, then went to get my knife to cut some asparagus – he again moved away but not far. I puttered around the garden beds, pulling weeds, weaving the honeysuckle vines – and he went back to eating until he had his fill. Progress…progress!

    Liked by 1 person

        1. you’re right about the feeding locale.
          when it was supposed to rain really hard one day, i moved the jelly feeder. our deck is L-shaped and one spot can clearly be seen from the other spot, so i thought no problem.
          the “alphas-males and females” quickly adapted but the younger ones, went instead to the hummer feeders and i promptly chased them.
          when i moved the feeder back to the original spot, again it took them the better part of a day before they figured it out

          Like

  37. in nyc i think. the stores lock up the merchandise, the shoplifters bring BLOW TORCHES

    Val1
    June 23, 2023 8:49 am
    Reply to Val1

    Video here:

    The locks on store merchandise are not going to work.

    Now the shoplifters just bring a blow torch. 🔥
    Nature finds a way.

    Ht @BankerWeimar pic.twitter.com/q1qwntpvpY

    — Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) June 22, 2023

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Yeah! Finally getting some rain – still only 72 – I even had to put a hat on since my head was cold! LOL – my head and my feet!

    Liked by 1 person

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