Starfish, or sea stars as scientists prefer to call them, are marine invertebrates that are closely related to sea urchins and sand dollars. Despite the fact that starfish are amongst the most ubiquitous marine creatures, little is known about their mobility. Little wonder then that when beachgoers in North Carolina spotted a starfish that had been washed ashore ‘walking’ in an effort to get back to the ocean, people were shook!
Yes, you heard that right – starfish walk! Even though they have five arms, it’s the thousands of cilia on the underside of their bodies that actually facilitate movement.
BONUS FACT: Did you know starfish are capable of regenerating damaged parts such as lost arms, and can in fact shed arms as a means of defence?
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