Sea stars are ravenous carnivores with a special adaptation for consuming prey outside their bodies. The arms can bend and twist allowing sea stars to move over irregular surfaces, grasp prey or even flip themselves over.
During locomotion the tiny tube feet perform a coordinated “grip and pull” action. A network of water vessels in each arm draws in water and channels it to the tube feet enabling them to move. The tube feet are used for locomotion, feeding, respiration and sensory functions. Along the groove there are 2-4 rows of small tubular projections called tube feet tipped with muscular suction cups. Sea stars have a groove extending from the mouth into each arm. Regeneration is a slow process and may require a year for complete reformation. Regeneration is possible because each of the arms contains parts of the vital organs including the digestive tract and reproductive organs. Some species of sea star have the ability to regenerate lost arms or even regenerate a whole new sea star from a single arm attached to a portion of the central disc.
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