They help it to stick onto rocks or glass if in an aquarium an stuff like that...
Beacuase the cushion starfish has 1000's of little suckers underneath, they stick to the rocks and they are so strong that the waves can't pull them off the rocks, but if we come along and rip it off the rocks, that damaged the cushion starfish.
They adapt to harsh environments in the intertidal zone. Also they have special pads on their dorsal side to stick to rocks as waves pass over them.
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The starfish takes in water into the tube feet, (expanding the tube feet) the water is then forced out of the tube feet, (contracting the tube feet) making it able to grab onto the object.
Starfish have little tube feet each with a sucker at the end,. They stick so hard they can pull clams open.
Some starfish do indeed eat limpet. These starfish tend to be more aggressive feeders and will pry limpets from their rocks.
helps them stick to things
helps them stick to things
Starfish don't swim they crawl around very slowly on rocks in the ocean on their "feet". Sometimes the current can unstick them from their rocks and make them momentarily be "waterborn" but this is not swimming.
They have special suckers on their body which cling to the rocks like suction cups.
Sea stars like to live in shallow tide pools in the ocean.