Learn how sea stars can regrow a lost leg, and sometimes a whole new sea star can grow from just one leg, explained simply for kids.
Hi there! Let's talk about sea stars — you might know them as starfish. Did you know that if a sea star loses one of its legs, that leg can sometimes grow back? Even more amazing, in some cases, a lost leg can actually grow into a whole new sea star!
Here's how it works: Sea stars are special because their bodies can do something really cool called "regeneration." This means they can grow back parts of their bodies if they get lost or hurt.
If a sea star loses a leg, it can slowly grow a new one in its place. And if the leg that falls off includes part of the center of the sea star (where all its important parts connect), that leg can sometimes grow into a completely new sea star all by itself!
This helps sea stars stay safe — if a predator tries to catch them, the sea star can let go of a leg to escape, and later that leg can become a new sea star.
Isn't nature amazing?