We took our younger son, D, and his girlfriend, K, to the beach and stopped off at the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea. B and I had never been when it was open, though we had stopped a couple of times many years ago and found them closed.
K studies sea stars in San Francisco Bay, so it was fun to go with her to see Florida sea stars. There were quite a few varieties in several touch tanks.
On these below, you can see how some of the arms are regenerating.
In the picture below, you can see the tube feet. K informs us that they are used for mobility and to attach to their prey. They eat mussels, snails, barnacles, limpets and other shelled creatures. When they eat, they insert their stomaches into the live animal.
In this amazing little video that K showed us, you can watch this happening. See for yourself!
This is another video clip of sea stars that came out from BBC in 2011.
http://www.metatube.com/en/videos/90640/BBC-Nature-Brinicle-ice-finger-of-death-filmed-in-Antarctic/
Sounds like a great place. I have driven by it but never stopped.
ReplyDeleteSo much has changed since I lived (grew up) in Tallahassee. Finding your blog has provided a lifeline to me in land-locked Plano, Tx! I have been a long-time lurker.
ReplyDeleteThe sea star videos are fantastic. I have heard of brinicles, but had no idea how they formed or what they looked like.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks, Maggie! I hope you will continue to join us here. (Welcome home!)
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