Scientific Name: Asteroidea
There are over 2,000 species of Starfish or Sea Star. The most common is the five-arm Starfish but there are also Starfishes with 40 arms. They are closely related to sea urchins and they are not fish at all. They have hard bodies which prevent predators from eating them and they also have bright colors for camouflage. Their eyes are located at the tip of each arm and they have tubed feet which are actually gills that transports oxygen. Starfish have high sensory arms that can regenerate when cut. On some species, these arms have spines or thorns are are quite poisonous and this can be used for self defense. The mouth is located on the center which also acts as the anus. The lifespan of Starfishes depends on what type of species they are. Some reach about ten years while others live for more than 35 years.
The outer covering of Starfishes contains a kind of slime that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which help cures fever and asthma. Scientists have been studying this slime or goo and found out that it can be added to medicines
Starfish skewers can be seen on the sidewalks of China. These are very unusual for most people but locals tend to eat it like they are eating barbeque. :)
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