Saturday, August 4, 2012

Want to see a Sea Star up close?

My hubby and I have both been fortunate enough to catch a sea star right out of the ocean.

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We looked at them and then carried them into the ocean surf to carefully release them.

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I went to Wikipedia to get more info so I’ll quote, “Starfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. About 1,800 living species of starfish occur in all the world's oceans.”

What we found most interesting was the underside of the starfish.

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According to Widipedia, “Starfish move using a water vascular system.”

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They have hundreds of tube feet that allow them to latch onto surfaces and move in a wave, gliding across the ocean floor. The ones we saw were very close to the same color of the sand so they were hard to see.

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Let’s look up close!

Have you ever seen anything so remarkable?

I wish you could have seen these tube feet in motion! They were trying to latch on to something to get away!

Another amazing starfish I saw this week was on Stewart’s blog HERE ! You’ll have to click on the link to believe it! It’s beyond your imagination!

Enjoy your weekend!

43 comments:

Stacey said...

I would love to look at them up close and in person. It's neat that you put them right back...I would too. :)

Anne said...

This is so amazing. I've never seen live one before. Thanks for sharing. =)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

they are amazing!...great shots, thank you for sharing... we rarely get to see them up here in the northeast, but sometimes we'll find a dead one that has probably traveled too far.

Donna said...

How cool! I didn't know that they had little "feet!"

RURAL said...

Diane, what a treat, to find and feel that starfish, I am so glad that you let it go...poor thing, I bet it was pretty happy also.

That blue starfish is amazing.

On the West Coast of BC when I was a kid there were gianormous ones, at least 12 -15 inches across. They grow them big in the Pacific ocean.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

cucki said...

I saw it once closely too..amazing
Thank you for sharing xxx

Barb said...

Hi Diane,
How fun!! Just amazing!!
Thanks for showing us desert rats the fun in the sun--and water!
Enjoy your weekend,
Barb

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I have seen starfish up close and they are amazing. You got some great photos of the underside. hugs, Linda

Debbiedoos said...

How cool is that! I seriously have never seen one caught. What a nice sea start this is. Have a great weekend Diane!

Mary said...

What fascinating creatures. Nice that you let them go.

Barbara F. said...

I have never see a live starfish. That is really amazing. xo

Olive said...

beautiful and I am so glad you released it. I get upset at the beach when people dig for sand dollars. I usually cause a scene.

Maureen Wyatt said...

Amazing! I went to see the blue one and was blown away. Nature is infinitely fascinating! ~ Maureen

Tammy said...

How cool, Diane! I've never seen a living one before.. only the dried varieties they sell at the craft store for gluing on things! hehe I'm not sure I would want to hold one myself, all those feet are a bit to "creepy crawly" for me! But I'm glad you and Mr.LD were brave enough so we could see them too! :)
I hope you're having a fab weekend. I'm off for an afternoon of thrifting as soon as I can get the hubs moving. Wish me luck!! :)

Palomasea said...

Absolutely amazing...I am in awe of the diversity of our beautiful planet!
Thank you so much for sharing...
xoxo,
- Irina

The Rusty Thimble said...

OH how cool, you are making me miss the ocean once again AHHH I would so love to take a trip

thank you for sharing Diane

hugs
Brenda

Della said...

Aren't they amazing! I've found several lives ones on the Pacific coast, and only one live one on the Gulf coast. I have found a few dead ones on the Pacific coast to keep, but still haven't found a dead one in Florida. That is actually a good thing :D
It looks like you had an amazing getaway!

The French Hutch said...

Hi Diane, I have to say as much time as I've spent at the beach I don't recall ever seeing this beautiful Sea Star. It would be very interesting to hold one. Sea creatures are so different. My grandson would love to hold one! Thanks for sharing your great photos.

~Emily
The French Hutch

cynthia lee designs said...

Great photos of the Starfish. I got to see them up close when we were in Florida many years ago. They are so amazing.
hugs,
Cindy

Danice G said...

Awesome, Diane! I have never seen a sea star up close. It must be so nice to live near the ocean. Thanks for the great photo :)

It's me said...

Amazing !! i never seen a live one before......enjoy a happy weekend....love Ria...xxx...

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I've never seen one in Florida and didn't realize they'd be there. We have them on the Oregon Coast, but they're different ...they are all amazing creatures. (And I looked at Stuart's blue one, yeah, wow!)

JG said...

Diane, you brought back memories for me with this post! My sister & I would pick up starfish at Misquamicut Beach in R.I. to observe when we were kids. The starfish were so interesting to us. Yes, back into the water they'd go. :)
~Judy

Unknown said...

AAAAAwhhhhhh how adorkable!!!! Its sooo tiny and cuuute! You are so lucky you got to see that! :)

Hugs,

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

It must have been so interesting to see these tiny creatures in motion. Thanks for sharing them Dianne. Wow, a blue starfish...we've been missing a world of wonders under the ocean.

Joanne said...

How awesome! and the pictures are really cool!
Blessings, Joanne

Stewart M said...

Thanks for the link! I still think the blue star fish is one of the best things I've found!

Stewart M

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Very cool! Are they soft??? Isn't it something..all the awesome creatures that God created!!
Warmly,
deb

Mary said...

so interesting...and that think star is different that the wider type we see in CA. We only visit beaches occasionally, so I am always amazed at

Cheapchick said...

How timely, I read your blog this morning, went to the beach later in the day and spotted our first starfish of the season! You must be giving off Starfish Karma!

NanaDiana said...

I love Starfish and have several that I collected when I lived in FL. I never had the nerve to pick the big ones up, though! I am headed over to Stewart's blog- Blessings- xo Diana

Sunny Simple Life said...

We love to tide pool and pull enormous ones out to see and then return to the ocean. One of life's simple joys.

Diane Writes said...

Wow! What an experience namemate! And the pictures were greatly taken. Priceless!

Chenille Cottage said...

What amazing and complex these little creatures are...I'm so happy you have such a respect for them. The beach where I stayed last weekend had so many sand dollars...but, no starfish.
Your blog is wonderful...I grew up on the Oregon Coast and love returning as often as I can.
Have a nice weekend, my friend!
Carolynn

SImple and Serene Living said...

I love starfish and it is so amazing to find one and share its beauty for a short time before releasing it back into the ocean. Have a wonderful day, friend.
Hugs,
Laura

LBP said...

I have never seen a live star fish! Only the dried ones they sell in the stores! That is so cool!

Blessings

Linda

lilybets said...

I don't love starfish...when I see someone moving under the water of the sea I'm scary !I believe it depends by by terror of worms...I hate worms!!!!Thankk you for stopping to my blog and appreciating of my words,nice week!

Anonymous said...

I've never held a live starfish.. that would be interesting!

Chatty Crone said...

I have never ever seen a live one! That was great. sandie

Lisa Farmer Designs said...

Thank you for sharing the pictures of the starfish. It was fun seeing them alive. I liked the first picture where the tip of it's arm curled around your finger. Magical! Lisa

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

When my Dad would go fishing off Captree, Long Island he would sometime catch a star fish or two. I loved looking at them but we also always threw them back into the ocean ;)

Betsy said...

I will show this to my grandson, I think he thinks they come from the ocean - stiff. Neat pics.
My husband is from Florida and now I am thinking that I may like to live there.
Love your blog
Betsy

Val said...

They are amazing. Neat pictures.