Posted by Wayne on October 20, 2026, 8:59 am
WHILE STARFISH HAVE PLENTY OF LIMBS, THEY’RE SORELY LACKING IN OTHER BIOLOGICAL DEPARTMENTS. FOR INSTANCE, THESE UNIQUE SEA CREATURES DON’T HAVE A BRAIN — OR EVEN BLOOD. INSTEAD, STARFISH ARE ABLE TO MOVE, BREATHE, AND FEED THANKS TO THE LIFE-SUSTAINING SEAWATER COURSING THROUGH THEIR VEINS.
STARFISH POSSESS WHAT’S CALLED A “WATER VASCULAR SYSTEM,” WHICH IS ALSO PRESENT IN OTHER ECHINODERMS SUCH AS SEA URCHINS AND SEA CUCUMBERS. THIS SYSTEM IS COMPOSED OF A SERIES OF WATER-FILLED CANALS, AND AS SEAWATER PASSES THROUGH THE CANALS, IT DELIVERS NUTRIENTS AND OXYGEN TO THE STARFISH. THE WATER VASCULAR SYSTEM ALSO AIDS IN LOCOMOTION: AS SACS WITHIN THE SYSTEM CONTRACT, THEY PUSH FLUID INTO THE STARFISH’S FEET, ALLOWING THOSE LIMBS TO ELONGATE AND GRAB ONTO THEIR SURROUNDINGS.
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