MadSci Network: Zoology
Query:

Re: How long does it take for a sea star and an lobster to regenerate a lost

Date: Fri Apr 14 17:25:48 2000
Posted By: Allison J. Gong, Graduate student, Biology
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 953674361.Zo
Message:

Hello Jeanette,

As you already know, both seastars and lobsters are capable of regenerating 
lost limbs.  Here's what I was able to find about this ability:

Seastars - Most stars can renegerate a lost arm, or ray.  In fact, there is 
a species (Linckia) that actually reproduces by leaving its arm behind and 
walking away from it.  The large piece regenerates the missing arm, and the 
arm regenerates the rest of the seastar, resulting in two whole stars!  I 
wasn't able to find out how long arm regeneration takes, but my guess is 
that it's a slow process taking at least several weeks.  Here are some web 
pages that have good information on seastar biology:


http://www.soundwaters.org/discover/sea_star.htm

http://bio.bu.edu/~jdale/starfish/regeneration.htm
  
http://www.umassd.edu/Public/People/Kamaral/thesis/Seastar.html


Lobsters - Lobsters and other crustaceans can voluntarily let go of limbs. 
The limb is released from the body, and the muscles and blood vessels 
constrict around the wound to minimize the loss of blood.  This phenomenon 
is called autotomy, and is a defense response - the predator may be 
satisfied with the lobster's leg, while the rest of the lobster escapes.  
The lost leg is slowly regenerated through successive molts of the lobster's 
exoskeleton.  It takes several molts (probably over several months) to 
regenerate completely a large limb such as a claw in an adult lobster.  If 
the lobster is young and growing quickly, regeneration will take less time.

I hope this helps you!

Allison Gong  




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