STARFISH
The mouth of the starfish is found on the under side of the starfish creature. Food enters the mouth and into the first stomach. Then it is passed onto the secondary stomach and then into the digestive glands that are located within each of the arms of the starfish. These digestive glands let out enzymes and absorb the much needed nutrients from food. A small intestine runs from the secondary stomach to the area where the starfish disposes waste which is located in the central upper part of the body
FUN FACT: Many species of starfish are able to eat their prey whole!
FUN FACT: Many species of starfish are able to eat their prey whole!
BRITTLE STARS
The mouth of the brittle star has five jaws! It serves the purpose of an anus, as well as a mouth. Behind the jaws is a short esophagus and a large stomach cavity that is found in much of the dorsal half of the animal's middle area. Digestion occurs within 10 pouches of the stomach! These animals are scavengers. Brittle stars eat small organisms if available or eat in large crowded areas eating particles off the seafloor currents using its powerful jaws.
SEA URCHINS
The structure of the Sea Urchins mouth in its digestive system is called Aristotle's lantern. The teeth of Aristotle's lantern, are used to scrape algae and kelp off close rocks. Then after the food is in the mouth it goes through the esophagus, going into one of two parts of there stomach. First the food goes into the cardiac stomach, then the pyloric stomach, and then the waste goes through the anus.
FUN FACT: Sea Urchins Mouth and Anus are switched meaning the mouth is on the bottom and the anus is on the top of the body!
FUN FACT: Sea Urchins Mouth and Anus are switched meaning the mouth is on the bottom and the anus is on the top of the body!