Troschel's Sea Star (Evasterias troschelli), also called the Mottled Star, resembles an Ochre Star, though the Troschel's arms are much more slender and its' central disk is much smaller. Also, the whitish spines on Troschel do not form a pattern as they do on the Ochre Star.
Please note the round white spot near the center of the central disk (photo below). This perforated plate is called the "madreporite" through which water can be taken into the sea star's body and pumped through its water- vascular system. The water-vascular system is connected to the star's tube feet and its' ability to move about the tide pools and capture prey.
A sea star's mouth is located on its underside. To eat, the star extrudes its stomach through its mouth and wraps it into or around its prey. The stomach is thinner than a piece of paper and can be inserted into the tiniest of openings to digest a mussel or other bivalve. The star digests its' food externally before swallowing it.
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Posted by: elliptical reviews | December 12, 2011 at 02:59 AM