Valvatida facts for kids
Valvatida is a large group of sea stars, also known as starfish. These amazing creatures live in the ocean. They are part of a bigger group called Asteroidea. There are many different kinds of Valvatida sea stars. This group includes about 695 different types of sea stars. They are found all over the world.
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What Makes Valvatida Sea Stars Special?
Valvatida sea stars have some unique features. They have special plates on their bodies. These plates are called marginal plates. They are often shaped like valves. These plates help protect the sea star. Most Valvatida sea stars have five arms. Some can have more. They use their tube feet to move around. These feet also help them grab food.
Where Do Valvatida Sea Stars Live?
You can find Valvatida sea stars in many ocean habitats. They live in both shallow waters and deep parts of the ocean. They are found in tropical seas and colder waters. Some live on rocky shores. Others prefer sandy or muddy bottoms. They are an important part of ocean ecosystems.
Different Kinds of Valvatida
The Valvatida group is very diverse. It includes many well-known sea stars. For example, the Crown-of-thorns starfish is a Valvatida. It is famous for its spiky appearance. The Cushion star is another type. It looks more like a rounded cushion. The Red-knobbed starfish is also part of this group. These different types show how varied Valvatida sea stars can be.
Images for kids
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Asterina miniata
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Certonardoa semiregularis
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Choriaster granulatus
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Cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae)
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Linckia laevigata
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Mediaster aequalis.
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Pentagonaster dubeni
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Red-knobbed starfish (Protoreaster linckii)
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Dermasterias imbricata
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See also
In Spanish: Valvátidos para niños
