Why do starfish have five arms?
Many starfish have five arms because their bodies grow in five matching parts.
Pip’s answer
- Many starfish have five arms because their bodies grow in five matching parts.
- Some starfish have even more arms, like ten or twenty!
- Each arm has tiny tube feet that help it creep along the sand.
- Ooh, a starfish can even grow a brand new arm!
Try it together
Can you spread your arms and legs like a starfish?
For grown-ups
Sea stars (starfish) have radial symmetry, and most species have five arms, though some have ten, twenty or even forty. Each arm has rows of tube feet for moving and gripping. Many sea stars can regrow lost arms over months, and they're not actually fish.
Ask your child: Did you know starfish aren't fish? What else could we call them?
More questions kids ask
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- 🦀Why do crabs walk sideways?
- 🌊Why is the sea salty?
- 🐟How do fish breathe underwater?
- 🐟Why do fish swim in groups?
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