MadSci Network: Zoology |
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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