13 Weird and Wonderful Starfish Facts (for a 6-year-old)

Hi! Let’s learn about starfish (they are also called sea stars). I will tell you 13 funny and strange things about them. Ready?

1. They are not fish. Starfish are called sea stars because they are not fish. They are special animals that live in the ocean.
2. Most have five arms. Many starfish look like stars with five arms — but some have lots more!
3. They can grow back arms. If a starfish loses an arm, it can sometimes grow a new one like magic over time.
4. They move with tiny feet. Under each arm are hundreds of little tube feet that help them walk and stick to rocks.
5. They eat in a surprising way. Some starfish push their stomach out of their body to digest food outside, then pull it back in.
6. They don’t have blood like we do. Instead of red blood, starfish use seawater to move food and water around their bodies.
7. Their feet can taste food. The tiny tube feet can help them smell or taste what’s nearby—almost like tasting with their toes!
8. They have tiny eyes on their arms. At the tip of each arm there is a little eye that can tell light from dark and help them find their way.
9. Some glow in the dark. A few kinds of starfish can make light in the dark ocean. That is called bioluminescence.
10. They come in many colors and sizes. Starfish can be bright red, purple, orange, or brown — and some are very big while others are tiny.
11. They live on the ocean floor. Starfish like to crawl on rocks, sand, and coral where they search for food.
12. They can open clams and mussels. Starfish use their strong arms and tube feet to pry open shells and then eat the inside.
13. Baby starfish look different. Baby starfish start as tiny, floating larvae and only later grow into the star shape.

Quick, safe activity: If you ever see a starfish at the beach, look and count the arms, but don’t pick it up. You can draw it on paper and color it bright!

Want to hear more about one of these facts? Tell me which one and I’ll explain more!