Visually, starfish are one of the most beautiful creatures that look like stars in the sky. We usually find them with only five arms. This amazing sea creature holds many secrets that may not be known.

1. Starfish are not Fish

It has been a long time since we called the Star of the Sea a starfish, but actually, it's not a fish. It has no gums, scales, or even fins. Starfish are completely different from fish. Starfish do not have tails, but they have tiny tubular feet that help them move.

2. Two Stomachs and Numerous Eyes

Starfish have two stomachs, one of which can spit out, wrapping prey outside the body for digestion.

Their stomach has a unique structure that extends out of the mouth and places the stomach inside the body of their prey to digest them. This special skill of external digestion can help starfish eat food several times larger than itself.

As they digest, starfish grow tiny crystals all over their bodies. These crystals are like eyes; they gather light very well and can pick up the situation from all directions at the same time.

3. Starfish are Invertebrates

Starfish are invertebrates, which means they have no bones or joints. Instead, their bodies are made of soft tissue, which allows them to bend and twist with ease to suit their environment.

4. Ancient Starfish

Starfish are very ancient creatures that have been around for over 400 million years. They are considered primitive organisms with very old genomes. This makes them interesting objects for studying biological evolution.

5. Superb Regeneration Ability

The starfish's trick is that it can regenerate. When starfish encounter a strong enemy, they will immediately cut off their arms and run away. A new arm will soon grow where the arm is severed.

Of course, the strength of this regenerative ability varies from species to species. For example, a sand starfish can regenerate into a completely new individual even if it only retains a 1 cm arm, while a sunflower starfish must retain part of its body disk to regenerate.

6. Medical Value of Starfish

Scientists have found that starfish contains a large number of medicinal ingredients, which have pharmacological effects such as hemolysis, anti-cancer, anti-virus, anti-ulcer, lowering blood pressure, anti-inflammation, and anesthesia.

Some studies have shown that the regenerative ability of starfish comes from an unproven genetic factor, so starfish have certain medical value.

Starfish play a vital role in the marine ecosystem. They are key species in the food chain at the bottom of the ocean and play an important role in maintaining ecological balance.

Starfish mainly feed on benthic organisms such as shellfish, crabs, and sea urchins. Through their predation behavior, they control the number of these benthic organisms and maintain the species diversity in the seabed ecosystem. When starfish populations decline, populations of these benthic organisms can explode, affecting the balance of the entire marine ecosystem.

While starfish are an important part of marine ecosystems, they also face threats. Factors such as overfishing, ocean pollution, and climate change can negatively impact starfish survival. Therefore, the protection of starfish and the marine ecosystems in which they live has become especially important.

Starfish are not just beautiful creatures that look like stars in the sky. They are fascinating creatures with unique abilities and vital roles in the marine ecosystem. It is crucial to protect them and the marine ecosystem, which they call home, for the benefit of the entire planet.