Echinoderms
The slow-moving, spiny explorers of the ocean floor
Animals with five-part bodies and special feet that help them crawl across the sand
What makes them this type?
- Radially symmetrical (like a pizza)
- Covered in tiny, pointy skin plates called spines
- Special tube feet for moving slowly
- Found only in ocean environments
Examples
Red Starfish Can regrow arms if they get hurt
Purple Urchin Uses spines for defense and digging
Sand Dollar Has beautiful, intricate patterns on its back
Motion Notes (for Animation & Drawing)
- Move by slowly extending tube feet
- Can use many feet at once to push across sand
- Very slow - often just a few inches per minute
Learn More
Five-part body with mouth in center
Special digestive system that breaks down food outside the body
Fun Facts
- Echinoderms can regrow entire bodies from tiny pieces of skin
- Some echinoderms have up to 15,000 tube feet!
- They don't have a brain - instead they use nerve cells all over their body