Marine
Biology
Activity 2
Have you ever wondered about the lives of
marine plants and animals?
DID YOU KNOW!!!
Invertebrates are animals that do not have a backbone. Invertebrates
are cold-blooded; their body temperature depends on the temperature of
their environment (surroundings).
What kind of invertebrate is this girl holding?
Answer:______________
Your task as a marine biologist is to:
Research the life of the common starfish
Use books and the internet if you can!
Then see if you can answer our featured creature quiz questions
Draw a picture of the featured creature and identify the main body parts
Starfish (also known as sea stars) are spiny animals with a hard skin that live
on the sea floor.
Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning EU Network of Excellence
Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems
GOCE-CT-2003-505446
Marine
Biology
Activity 2
Hint for your research:
The scientific name of the
Comon Starfish is
Asterias rubens
For your research try the local library, school & the internet…
here are few websites to get you started…
- http://www.marlin.ac.uk/sah/species_information.php
- http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/starfish.html
- http://www.vsf.cape.com/~jdale/science/science.htm
1. Is the starfish a carnivore or a herbivore?
Answer: _________________________________
2. What do starfish eat? What eats them?
Answer: _________________________________
3. How do starfish move around?
Answer:_________________________________
4. Do starfish have eyes? How do they see?
Answer:__________________________________
COOL FACT!!!
Starfish can spit their stomach out of their mouth (its called “everting” their
stomach) into a shell and digest the animal inside!! UUUGGGHHHH
Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning EU Network of Excellence
Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems
GOCE-CT-2003-505446
Marine
Biology
Activity 2
MAIN BODY PARTS:
1. Mouth
4. Eyespots
2. Anus
5. Tube-feet
3. Arms (how many?)
6. Disk at centre of body
Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning EU Network of Excellence
Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems
GOCE-CT-2003-505446