Starfish

This is a great guide for identifying starfish you might encounter.

 

Starfish are not actually a fish at all , but are animals belonging to the Phylum Echinodermata, and are further divided into two classes Asteroidea(sea stars) and Ophiuroidea(brittle stars). Although starfish are thought to be passive they can be quite a voracious predator under the sea. Starfish feed primarily on mollusks and other echinoderms. While starfish are commonly represented as having only 5 legs , there are some that exhibit many more as seen below

 

To see how to preserve them go here

 

Here are various forms of Starfish

 

Brittle Stars

 

Basket Star

 

Brittle Star

 

 

Sea Stars

 

Nine Armed or Millipede starfish

 

Sunflower Star

 

 

Beaded Star

 

 

Brown Star- This starfish various in color from brownish to tan

 

 

Common N. Atlantic Starfish

 

 

Netted Star

 

 

Spiny Beaded Star

 

 

Sugar Star

 

 

Cushion Star (Bahamas Star)