MadSci Network: Zoology
Query:

Re: Do starfish migrate and what are starfish babies called?

Date: Tue May 16 00:54:25 2000
Posted By: Rochelle Ferris, Undergraduate, Marine Biology / Zoology, James Cook University, Australia
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 957823054.Zo
Message:

In short, no, sea stars don't migrate.  Well, the only time that they move 
anywhere is when they are in their planktonic form and are floating through 
the oceans looking for a suitable place to land.

Baby sea stars don't have a special name.  When they are present in their 
planktonic form, though, they are commonly known as trochophore larvae, but 
this term is broad and doesn't specifically apply to sea stars.
Sorry I couldn't give you any juicy details on the sea star life history.  

Rochelle.

Admin Note:
The common sea star has two larval stages: the Bipinnaria larva followed
by the Brachiolaria larva.  For more on sea star development, go to:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art98/janstar.html


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