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sea star
echinoderm
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Also known as: Asteroidea, starfish
sunflower starfish
- Related Topics:
- Forcipulata edged sea star spiny sea star Crossaster cushion star
sea star, also called starfish, any marine invertebrate of the class Asteroidea (phylum Echinodermata) having rays, or arms, surrounding an indistinct central disk. Despite their older common name, they are not fishes. The roughly 1,600 living species of sea stars occur in all oceans; the northern Pacific has the greatest variety. Most species are 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) across; some are only 1 cm (0.4 inch), and others are as much as 65 cm (25 inches) across. Sea star arms—typically five in number—are hollow and, like the disk, covered with short spines and pedicellariae (pincerlike organs); ...(100 of 795 words)