Sea Stars (starfish) are the main predators of kelp-eating sea urchins. Satellite imagery shows that sea urchin populations have exploded due to starfish mass deaths, and that by 2021, sea urchins have destroyed 95% of California's kelp forests.

Mar 21, 2025 · Sea star, 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 …

Sea stars, also known as starfish, are easily recognized marine creatures. Despite the nickname “starfish,” the sea star is not a fish at all! These star-shaped animals are surprisingly interesting creatures. Read on to learn about the sea star.

Jan 3, 2019 · From thousands of hidden feet to the ability to grow back lost limbs, these seven facts about sea stars just might make your jaw drop in disbelief! Sea stars lack a number of fishy anatomical features, including gills, scales or fins.

There are some 2,000 species of sea star living in all the world’s oceans, from tropical habitats to the cold seafloor. The five-arm varieties are the most common, hence their name, but species...

Sea stars occupy every type of habitat, including tidal pools, rocky shores, sea grass, kelp beds, and coral reefs. Some sea stars even live in sands as deep as 20,530 feet (9,000 meters). Sea...

4 days ago · Sea Star vs. Starfish: Unraveling the Mystery of These Marine Wonders. The terms sea star and starfish are often used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle yet important distinction. Simply put, sea star is the scientifically preferred term because these fascinating creatures are not fish. They belong to the phylum Echinodermata, a group of marine invertebrates that also …

A starfish, also sometimes known as a sea star, is a star-shaped echinoderm commonly found throughout the world’s oceans. Starfish also known as sea stars can withstand frigid and tropical environments.

Learn about sea stars, including their habitat, diet, range and population status, and where you can find them at the National Aquarium.

Apr 11, 2025 · The Sunflower Star Laboratory is raising young sunflower sea stars at its facility on the shore of Monterey Bay. The starfish — which can span more than three feet as adults — are housed ...