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How can a sea star open a clam?
The starfish forces open the shell with suction disks on the underside of its body, and then inserts its stomach membranes through its mouth into the opening of the shell. Digestive juices break down the shellfish’s body, which is then absorbed into the starfish’s stomach.
How does a starfish catch its prey?
Sea stars use suction in the tube feet for movement and feeding. When the prey is opened, the sea star pushes its stomach out of its body and into the bivalve, secreting enzymes that digest the prey’s soft body tissues. The liquefied bivalve is then absorbed into the stomach.
How does a sea star get its food?
Did you know that sea stars have a peculiar way of eating? They digest prey outside of their bodies by extruding their stomach out through their mouth and enveloping their meal. Sea stars are mostly carnivorous and prey on mollusks—including clams, mussels and oysters—which they pry open with their suction-cupped feet.
How does a sea star get its clam?
After a while, the clam gets tired. It opens its shell a tiny bit. Then the sea star does something else that seems almost impossible. It pushes one of its two stomachs inside out through its mouth and into the clam’s shell. Inside the shell, this stomach swallows the clam’s soft body.
What kind of food does a sea star eat?
Sea stars digest their prey outside of their bodies. Sea stars are mostly carnivorous and prey on mollusks—such as clams, mussels, and oysters—which they pry open with their suction-cupped feet.
Where do sea stars live in the ocean?
Sea stars live in salt water and are found in all of the world’s oceans, from warm, tropical waters to the cold seafloor. Sea stars are mostly carnivorous and prey on mollusks—including clams, mussels and oysters—which they pry open with their suction-cupped feet.
How does a sea star regenerate its arms?
Sea stars have rows of tiny tube feet extending from the grooved surface on their underside. These tube feet allow them to crawl along the ocean floor using suction created by an internal water-driven hydraulic system. These animals also have an amazing ability to regenerate arms when they are severed, or even a new body in some species.