The most common sea star (they aren't called starfish anymore!) on the southern Oregon coast is the Ochre Star (Pisaster ochraceus), which can be spotted from a distance due to their bright colors, relatively large size, and the fact they live near the low-tide line on exposed rocky shores.
All sea stars have hundreds of tube feet located in two rows on the underside of each arm. Stars use these tube feet for locomotion and to capture prey. In the photo below, a few tube feet are visible (the fine white threads extending from star's far-right arm) attached to the shell of a mussel, the Ochre Star's favorite prey.
Biologists have recently discovered a pair of "duo-glands" at the tip of each Ochre Star tube foot. One gland secretes a "glue" allowing the star to adhere to a rock indefinitly, or pry apart prey. When the star is ready to move about or finished consuming its' prey, the second gland secretes a substance that dissolves the "glue."
Sea Stars have the ability to regenerate a new arm(s) when they lose one or more to predators or mishap. In controlled experiments, biologists have been able to regenerate five complete, new sea stars from the five severed arms of one Ochre Star.
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