A dried sea star with skin removed shows a meshwork of bony plates and spines. These spines are controlled by muscles and are used as protection from predators and sometimes aid in locomotion. If you look between the spines, you may find thin, non-calcified appendages called papulae that protrude between ossicles and aid in respiration. Pictured here is a close-up of the spines and skin of a rose star. This material may be copied for use in student classroom projects and reports.
Limited permission is provided for teachers and educational web sites.
No other use of this material is allowed without written permission.