Morphology
The Chocolate Chip Sea Star has a star shaped body with penta-radial symmetry. They usually have a tan or brownish color and have small brown tubercles for protection, hence their name. They are also called the "Horned" Sea Star. Their body is also flattened and consists of a central disc which that radiates five arms.
Biology
Chocolate Chip Sea Stars have a number of different tactics they use for survival. Regeneration is among these, in which a sea star can regrow an arm in case they lose it by a predator. They also have hundreds of small tube feet, in which they use to pry open clams, oysters, and other types of prey. They also help keep them secure on a rock or other surface just in case of a storm or strong current.
Distribution Map
Importance
While many other types of sea stars are and can be used for things such as arts and crafts, Chocolate Chip Sea Stars are much to large and are usually not collected for that purpose. If a Chocolate Chip Sea Star is kept in an aquarium, it will eat detritus and prevent the aquarium water from contamination.
Facts
1. There are no two Chocolate Chip Sea Stars exactly alike.
2. Chocolate Chip Sea Stars can be found in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Red Sea.
3. Sea stars do not have a brain nor blood.
4. They do not have eyes, however they do sense light and shapes through an "eyespot" at the tip of their arms.
5. Chocolate Chip Sea Stars hunt food using their sense of smell.
2. Chocolate Chip Sea Stars can be found in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Red Sea.
3. Sea stars do not have a brain nor blood.
4. They do not have eyes, however they do sense light and shapes through an "eyespot" at the tip of their arms.
5. Chocolate Chip Sea Stars hunt food using their sense of smell.
Vocabulary
1. Central disc - where the sea stars' five arms radiate from
2. Ossicle - one of the small calcium carbonate plates that form the endoskeleton
3. Tube feet - small, flexible, fluid filled tubes that project from the body and are used for feeding, movement, etc.
4. Ampulla - bulb-like sac at the top of each tube foot that controls the entering and leaving of water in the foot
5. Regeneration - the process where a sea star grows back missing parts
2. Ossicle - one of the small calcium carbonate plates that form the endoskeleton
3. Tube feet - small, flexible, fluid filled tubes that project from the body and are used for feeding, movement, etc.
4. Ampulla - bulb-like sac at the top of each tube foot that controls the entering and leaving of water in the foot
5. Regeneration - the process where a sea star grows back missing parts
Resources
http://sea.sheddaquarium.org/sea/fact_sheets.asp?id=101l
http://www.freshmarine.com/chocolate-chip-sea-star.html
http://www.preservearticles.com/201101123153/useful-information-on-the-external-morphology-of-sea-star.html
http://www.freshmarine.com/chocolate-chip-sea-star.html
http://www.preservearticles.com/201101123153/useful-information-on-the-external-morphology-of-sea-star.html