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Article: Stars of the Sea.(starfish)
- Article from:
- The World and I
- Article date:
- July 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Endowed with attractive designs, remarkable hunting and feeding skills, and the unusual ability to regenerate broken parts, starfish are fascinating creatures that play a vital role in marine ecosystems.
Many years ago, oystermen encountered an annoying situation: Voracious starfish feasted on oysters and diminished their catches. To deal with the problem, they began cutting the culprits in half and tossing the seemingly lifeless body parts into the water. When the starfish populations exploded, the fishermen realized their mistake. Starfish have the power to regenerate their wounded bodies, and each time one was halved, two animals were created. These brainless ...