Without Proper Teeth how a Sea Star eats algae?

[Kumaran]

Without Proper Teeth how a Sea Star eats algae?

Urchin, snail all have sharp teeth to remove algae....


But how sea star eats algae? It just have small appendages to pull thing's into mouth, but how its eats algae with that?

( I am new to salt water, I am in learning phase, sorry for my silly questions)

 

[Mark Novack]

Starfish eat with extruded stomach organs. They predigest, intake, and finish digesting. The anus is centered on top.

 

[Kumaran]

Starfish eat with extruded stomach organs. They predigest, intake, and finish digesting. The anus is centered on top.

Thanks for the reply.

For blue linckia, i couldn't Identify anything on the top side except madreporite.

 

[ScottJ]

( I am new to salt water, I am in learning phase, sorry for my silly questions)

No silly questions! I never knew that Starfish did that. Now I have one more thing to add to my ever growing "List of things to Google!"

 

[Kumaran]

No silly questions! I never knew that Starfish did that. Now I have one more thing to add to my ever growing "List of things to Google!"

me too..... Day by day... My google list keep on growing.....

 

[Tired]

Many animals have some sort of teeth or mandibles, so they can cut food up and put it into their stomachs. Instead, sea stars put their stomach directly onto the food. The most extreme (and somewhat horrifying) example of that is the species that eat clams; they pry the clam's shell open, then spit their stomach out their mouth, into the shell, and digest the clam. Once it's gone, they reel their stomach back in and go on their way. Terrifying! But cool.

 

[Kumaran]

Many animals have some sort of teeth or mandibles, so they can cut food up and put it into their stomachs. Instead, sea stars put their stomach directly onto the food. The most extreme (and somewhat horrifying) example of that is the species that eat clams; they pry the clam's shell open, then spit their stomach out their mouth, into the shell, and digest the clam. Once it's gone, they reel their stomach back in and go on their way. Terrifying! But cool.

Yup digestion of flesh is ok by releasing stomach.... But how does algae gets digested? Algae needs some teeth to scrap?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yup digestion of flesh is ok by releasing stomach.... But how does algae gets digested? Algae needs some teeth to scrap?

They digest the algae outside of their body - they stick their stomach out through their mouth, digest the algae while it is still outside of them, then swallow it once it's partially/mostly digested.

In other words, they basically melt the algae off the rock instead of scraping it off.

 

[Kumaran]

They digest the algae outside of their body - they stick their stomach out through their mouth, digest the algae while it is still outside of them, then swallow it once it's partially/mostly digested.

In other words, they basically melt the algae off the rock instead of scraping it off.

Thnk u so much.... I have been searching for this answer every where.

 

[Tired]

The reason most algae-eaters scrape the algae up is so they can put it in their stomach. Instead, the starfish puts its stomach onto the algae, digests it, and absorbs it.

 

[Kumaran]

The reason most algae-eaters scrape the algae up is so they can put it in their stomach. Instead, the starfish puts its stomach onto the algae, digests it, and absorbs it.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Mark Novack]

Now I understand why Starro works in the movies. Its actually horrific. Its obviously related to the Sarlac.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

In regards not to algae eating stars, I can personally attest that my Fromias deploy their stomach onto food and digest it outside their body. I've got pics where you can actually see their stomach outside their bodies.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Some stars actually do have a part of their body called am "Aristotles Lantern" for scraping food off substrate though...that might only be urchins though, I'm not positive atm

 

[Kumaran]

In regards not to algae eating stars, I can personally attest that my Fromias deploy their stomach onto food and digest it outside their body. I've got pics where you can actually see their stomach outside their bodies.

For carnivorous, It true.... I was searching for algae eaters?

 

[Kumaran]

Some stars actually do have a part of their body called am "Aristotles Lantern" for scraping food off substrate though...that might only be urchins though, I'm not positive atm

Yae some specialist star fish may be... I am new here.... Just started learning

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Yae some specialist star fish may be... I am new here.... Just started learning

Just so you can see (thought you might find it interesting) here's a Fromia indica starfish with his stomach deployed...

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If you're interested in starfish and learning about them, did you know that they actually have compound eyes which are currently accepted to be the most complex sensory organs known to echinoderms? The tip of each arm actually has an eye (not as good as our eyes but still pretty incredible!)

 

[Kumaran]

If you're interested in starfish and learning about them, did you know that they actually have compound eyes which are currently accepted to be the most complex sensory organs known to echinoderms? The tip of each arm actually has an eye (not as good as our eyes but still pretty incredible!)

I have been reading everything about them..... I came across some article with scientists experimenting on star fish with normal vs covered eyes... They found star fish with covered eyes couldn't find way back to their hiding place after feeding....

But 'compound eyes which are currently accepted to be the most complex sensory organs known to echinoderms' is Incredible.

Sea star, urchin are very fascinating like aliens...