Starfish

Asteroidea

Starfish, alternatively referred to as sea stars, are a distinct type of star-shaped echinoderms that belong to the esteemed class Asteroidea. It is noteworthy to mention that common parlance often misuses these terms by also applying them to ophiuroids, which are more accurately referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Due to their classification in the class Asteroidea, starfish are colloquially known as asteroids. These remarkable marine creatures encompass a staggering variety, with approximately 1,900 different species inhabiting the ocean floor in all of the world's major bodies of water. Starfish can withstand diverse climate conditions, thriving in both warm tropical zones and freezing polar regions. They exhibit an impressive vertical range, inhabiting the intertidal zone as well as reaching abyssal depths of up to 6,000 m (20,000 ft) below the ocean's surface.