{"id":17108,"date":"2022-06-14T11:00:33","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T09:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=6040"},"modified":"2022-06-14T11:41:34","modified_gmt":"2022-06-14T09:41:34","slug":"starfish-guide-uk-species-how-to-identify-and-where-to-see","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/starfish-guide-uk-species-how-to-identify-and-where-to-see\/","title":{"rendered":"Starfish guide: UK species, how to identify and where to see"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By countryfile\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 14 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Call them starfish, or sea stars if you prefer (they\u2019re not actually fish) but there\u2019s no mistaking these celestially-shaped animals that dot the seabed around the world.<\/p>\n

Most have five arms but some, like the enormous sunflower sea stars, have dozens. Starfish have amazing regenerative abilities. They can regrow lost arms and some species even sprout a whole new body from a severed limb.<\/p>\n

Seastars are all types of echinoderms, together with brittlestars that have lots of snaky legs, spiny sea urchins and sausage-like sea cucumbers.<\/p>\n

Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts\u2019 Head of Living Seas, says starfish are \u201cAbsolutely vital to their wider environment.\u00a0 They help maintain a delicate balance in coastal ecosystems through eating mussels and barnacles. Starfish may be weird but they are also wonderful!\u201d<\/p>\n

These stars of our rockpools<\/a> and beaches<\/a> offer a touch of magic to any trip to the coast. Find out more about where they live, what they eat, and species to spot with our guide to starfish in the UK.<\/p>\n

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