Species Type:
Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Caribbean spiny sea star
Size:
Spiny sea stars grow about 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter.
Diet:
Spiny sea stars feed on a variety of animals, dead and alive. This includes shellfish, mollusks, fish, mussels and clams.
Range & Habitat:
These starfish can be found locally in bays, estuaries and other coastal areas. They exist throughout the rest of the Gulf of Mexico and in the Caribbean Sea.
Details:
Caribbean spiny sea stars are brown-red with small spines giving them a rough texture. They have five arms and a mouth on their underside. In some cases, a whole new sea star can develop from the lost arm! Instead of using muscles to move, they rely on a hydraulic system called the water vascular system.