Seesterne und Schlangensterne im Zoo Zürich

Starfish and brittle stars

Asterozoa

There are around 1,600 species of starfish and around 2,000 species of brittle stars worldwide.

NE

Red List
Not Evaluated

Starfish (Asteroidea) and brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) belong, like sea urchins, to the Eleutherozoa, a subphylum of the Echinodermata.

Most species of starfish and brittle stars have five arms. However, there are also some species with up to 50 arms. Severed arms usually grow back.

The smallest species (Asterina phylactica) measures 1 cm. The largest species (Freyella remex) measures over 100 cm.

Taxonomy

Echinoderms (Echinodermata), Eleutherozoans (Eleutherozoa)

Habitat

in the world’s oceans

Diet

It varies depending on the species. Most are predators or feed on carrion. However, there are also species that are herbivorous.

Body length

The smallest species (Asterina phylactica) measures 1 cm, whilst the largest species (Freyella remex) measures over 100 cm.

Taxonomy

Echinoderms (Echinodermata), Eleutherozoans (Eleutherozoa)

Habitat

in the world’s oceans

Diet

It varies depending on the species. Most are predators or feed on carrion. However, there are also species that are herbivorous.

Body length

The smallest species (Asterina phylactica) measures 1 cm, whilst the largest species (Freyella remex) measures over 100 cm.

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