Sea Star, Phylum Echinodermata, Class: Asteroidea
"Asteroids have long been known as starfish, but a more modern and appropriate common name is sea stars. They usually have five arms, although a few species have more. The arms are triangular, merging at the base into the central disc. Broken arms can be regenerated, and in some species a new animal can form a severed member. The mouth is located centrally on the undersurface, with anus on the top. Two or four rows of podia, tipped with suction discs, extend from the mouth down each arm. They are used both for movement and capturing prey. Some sea stars can evert their stomachs through their mouths to envelop and consume prey."3
3Humann, Paul. Reef Creature Identification, Florida Caribbean Bahamas. Ed. Ned DeLoach. Jacksonville, FL: New World Publications, Inc., 1996.
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