For the most interesting results, search for time-lapse videos of starfish feeding and interacting. Starfish (or sea stars) are beautiful marine animals found in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Due to their tiny mouth on the underside of their body, starfish have adapted an ingenious way of eating things larger than it can fit in their mouth. Some are scavengers, some are predators and some have a similar diet to fish. Vancouver Aquarium 282,160 views. Starfish Digestion and Circulation. The Starfish – or Sea Star – may be one of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean. This energy is transferred to the polyp, providing much needed nourishment. Starfish have a complete digestive system with a mouth at the center of their underside (the "oral" side) and an anus on their upper surface (the "aboral" side). They will find some food in the tank, picking up leftover fish food, algae and so on; but since a fish tank is much smaller than their natural habitat, meaning they probably will not find enough to sustain them. The word echinoderm means spiny skin, which describes most of the organisms in this phylum. A starfish releases its urine through its foot tubes found one of the ends of the starfish. Starfish, sand dollars, and sea urchins all belong to a group (phylum) of invertebrates known as echinoderms. Saponins are very unpleasant tasting and based on studies, such as this one and this one, are found in the larvae as well as the adults. Starfish have a feeding method that is unlike any other. The cardiac stomach is a sacklike organ located at the center of their bodies. Skip navigation Sign in. How does a starfish acquire food in a unique way ? What does starfish acquire food in a unique way? Dozens of species of starfish exist in the pet trade, most of them omnivorous scavengers. Photo credit: wikipedia.com 1. This provides the Starfish with the chance to be able to take in food sources that are several sizes larger than they are. Ask for details ; Follow Report by Sheelasheoran19 04.05.2018 Log in to add a comment How does a starfish acquire food in a unique way . Reproduction of the Sea Star. CBSE > Class 07 > Science 2 answers; Vedansh Bajaj 1 year, 6 months ago. After opening the shell, the starfish pops out its stomach through its mouth to eat the soft animal inside the shell. The beginning of the process- Starfish have a unique digestive system with a mouth at the center of their underside and an anus on their upper surface.Food can be brought into the stomach through the mouth or, in many species, the cardiac stomach can be extended out through the mouth to digest food … The algae live within the coral polyps, using sunlight to make sugar for energy. Sea stars are relatively mundane when it comes to behavioral observation. With more than 1,800 species of starfish, you can find the right size and type to match your saltwater aquarium environment. Starfish feeds on animals covered by hard shells of calcium carbonate. They have a stomach that can digest food outside their body, so that it can fit in their mouth. Let’s check out some facts about the starfish you may not know. To eat, the echinoderm ejects its stomach from its own body -- placing it over the digestible parts of its prey, typically a mussel or clam. This article describes the group of animals and has common core aligned questions. The figure below (from Brusca and Brusca) is a cut-away view of the digestive system and associated structures.