Royal+Sea+Star

Phylum: Echinodermata

Common Name: Royal Sea Star

Class: Asteroidea

Location: The Royal Sea Star is mainly located at the deep or shallow parts of any water systems.

Size: the common size of a sea star is around 12 inch when mature.

Habitat: Sea stars are found in most of temperate and tropical oceans of the world. They are exclusively marine and are bottom dwellers. Sea stars are found in a verity of Habitats from the intertidal zone down to the bottom of the deep blue sea, but they are mainly found in the shallow parts.

Living Requirements: The requirements of the Royal Sea Star is that they feed on clams, and mussels.

Life Cycle: Starfish or sea stars are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. Most species have separate male and female parts, but some are hermaphrodites.The lifespan of starfish varies considerably between species, generally being longer in larger species. Some reach sexual maturity in two years, and lives for about ten years in total, while //others// reach maturity in five years, and may live to the age of 34. Male and Female Differences: Sea stars really don't have a male and female difference the all have both male and female parts, and some are hermaphrodites.

Facts: Sea stars have radial symmetry, five or more arms radiating out from a central body, have spiky skin, move on tube feet, can regenerate lost arms, can push their stomach out through their mouth to feed

Human Impact: Due to the nature of the water, sea stars have little to no ability to filter pollutants and toxins out of the water they inhabit, since it is literally pumped directly into their bodies.

Resources: [] [|http://www.users.on.net/~jamesmosby/starfish/habitat.html] []