How do starfish defend them selves?

Answer 1

Starfish (asteroidia and ophiuroidia) really don't need to defend themselves, as they're on nobody's food chain. Due to the incredibly small amount of nutritious tissue coupled with the fibrous or bony exoskeleton, nothing in the ocean, and not even humans, find these animals worth eating. Other Echinodermshave other methods of course. Sea Urchins have spines. Sea Cucumbers (holothuroidia) have what may be the most unique defense mechanism in the animal kingdom! When sufficiently irritated, a Sea Cucumber can vomit out its reproductive system part of its gut, and a general gooey array of internal organs! This evacuate is covered with a protein-reactive adhesive, so when a fish tries to eat this mess, it sticks to their mouth, throat, etc. IF the fish lives, it may remmeber to never ever do this to a Sea Cucumber again. It takes 2-3 weeks for a Sea Cucumber to completely regenerate the ejected organs.