Echinoderms

Echinoderms are truly strange animals because none of them has a head, or eyes, or other kinds of things we associate with animals. All are built on a five-sided body plan, probably most obvious in the gorgeous sea stars (starfish) that you see so often. Despite their strange characteristics though, echinoderms number amongst our closest relatives on planet earth.

KNOWN SPECIES:
Approximately 6,000

SIZE RANGE:
Less than 1 centimeter to over 2 meters

CHARACTERISTICS: animals without a backbone, head, eyes, or brain; have radial symmetry, usually with 5 arms

WHERE THEY LIVE:

In oceans

Percentage Of Animals Are Echinoderms: 0.04%

ECOLOGICAL ROLES
AND HUMAN USES:

Predators, detritus feeders, filter feeders, herbivores • Some are keystone species (exerting a disproportionate effect on their ecostystem's structure through their predation) • Humans use echinoderms as food, as a source of medicines, and as research subjects in developmental biology, and as common souvenirs!

Source: American Museum Of Natural History

Sea Stars

Sea Stars Come In All Colors

© Photo By: Tim McGuinness

Blood Star - No Bones Zone

© Photo By: Florida Aquarium

Vermillion Sea Star - No Bones Zone

© Photo By: Florida Aquarium

Blood Star (Heriricia Leriuscala)

© Photo By: Florida Aquarium

Purple Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster Ochraceaus)

© Photo By: Florida Aquarium

Sea Stars - Ochre, Vermillion, & Bat

© Photo By: Tim McGuinness

Short Spined Sea Star - No Bones Zone

copyright Tim McGuinness

Ochre Sea Star's Tubular Feet - Sea Stars Breath Through Their Feet

© Photo By: Tim McGuinness

Close Up of Ochre Sea Star Arms

© Photo By: Tim McGuinness

Ochre Sea Star Bottom - No Bones Zone

© Photo By: Tim McGuinness

Orange Ochre Star

Orange Ochre Sea Star - No Bones Zone

© Photo By: Florida Aquarium

Vermillion Sea Star - No Bones Zone

© Photo By: Tim McGuinness

No Bones Zone
Terrific Pacific

Sea Star - Terrific Pacific Live Coral Tank 2nd Floor Lobby

© Photo By: Tim McGuinness

Sea Urchins

Spiny Sea Urchins - No Bones Zone

Sea Urchin - No Bones Zone

Sea Urchin - No Bones Zone

Spiny Sea Urchin - No Bones Zone

Slate Pencil Urchin

No Bones Zone
Bays Exhibit

Slate Pencil Urchin & Oscillated Moray Eel - Bays & Beaches

Thanks To Our Contributors On This Page: Tim McGuinness • Florida Aquarium

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KNOWN SPECIES: Approximately 6,000 SIZE RANGE: Less than 1 centimeter to over 2 meters

WHERE THEY LIVE:

ECOLOGICAL ROLES AND HUMAN USES:

KNOWN SPECIES:
Approximately 6,000

SIZE RANGE:
Less than 1 centimeter to over 2 meters

ECOLOGICAL ROLES
AND HUMAN USES: