Starfish Facts on its Importance in Nature
A lot of people see starfishes as cute animals by the seashore that you can pick up and take pictures of. But there is actually more to these creatures than just their appearances and colors. Not a lot of people understand starfish facts especially about their contribution to nature. Just like any other animal in the marine kingdom, they contribute a lot in Eco diversity and in keeping the food chain running.
Scientists and biologists actually called starfishes as keystone species in marine biology. This is because the number and the presence of starfishes in the oceans can greatly affect other animals and creatures in the sea. Several studies have been conducted where starfishes are voluntarily removed from an area of the ocean. The results were shocking since opportunist creatures such as mussels have threatened marine life by increasing in number so drastically in just a short span of time.
Starfishes are general predators and this means a lot of its species can eat whatever they want as long as they can catch it. The wide range of prey that starfishes can eat is one of the reasons why it is helpful in creating balance in marine biodiversity. These animals are keys in keeping resources and space in the sea balanced.
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Spines of Starfish Facts
If you find out about starfish facts, you will know that not all species of starfishes have spines on their backs. But majority of the living species have spines which are major parts of their exterior anatomy. These spines are extensions of the external dermis of the starfish which are composed of calcium carbonate. The spines may also be of different color than the rest of the body. Their tips can be sharp and pointed while others can be curved More... External Threats
The greatest threat to starfish is similar one which endangers most other seawater animals: human beings. Starfish needs clean and clear water as its habitat. When humans permit water pollutants to flow into the seas and oceans, these species can get extremely unhealthy and even die. In addition, there are several cultures that allow the eating of starfish. In case too many starfishes are brought away from any area, these beautiful seawater creatures will be deprived of the opportunity to More... Process of Cooking Starfish
The first step of cooking starfishes is putting eight large pieces of them in a pot filled with cold water through the entire night. Chop these creatures into little pieces as you wake up in the morning. You have to chop each of them whole, which means that nothing should be removed from the starfish. Put the starfish slices into a mortar, along with a small quantity of pepper, salt and butter. Grind the whole mixture into some thin paste. More... Starfish Facts on their Senses
Even if starfishes look very peculiar and different from the rest of the animals that you typically see, they still have typical body functions and processes that other animals commonly share. They also have senses such as seeing, touching, and smelling. These senses may be some starfish facts that you may not have heard before. In terms of vision, starfishes actually have vision sensors which are eyespots that are specially located at the far ends of the starfish’s arms. These More... Dissecting a Starfish
When considering dissecting a starfish, you must understand that this creature is a sea animal with a proportional endoskeleton. It feeds on mollusks and moves with hundreds of extremely small tube feet. Now, prepare the necessary tools for dissecting the starfish. These include a probe, a scalpel, dissection tray, scissors and pins. You must wear goggles and protective clothing to cover yourself against debris. Pin your starfish into the tray in such a way that its top view faces you. More... Regeneration and Self Cloning
In general, starfish regenerate by way of a three-stage process. Firstly, the repair stage heals the creature’s exposed wound. This phase is followed by the regenerative stage, in which the body of the echinoderm produces new cells and begins new growth. The final phase is referred to as the advanced regenerative stage, during which significant cell proliferation starts. Growth factors, which are neurally derived, determine the processes responsible for the formation of patterns during the last stage. If anything intervenes More... Fun Starfish Facts for Kids
Kids are always inquisitive especially if they see something that looks interesting. Starfishes always catch their attention because of their appearance and it will be fun if you give a few starfish facts to your kids if they ask. The first fact that you can give them is that starfishes are not really fish but they are echinoderms. They are more related to sea cucumbers even if they have a ‘fish’ in their name. You may be able to find More... |