Have you ever wondered what sea stars use in place of hands?
“Tube Feet” (or “podia”) are the tiny suction cup-tipped spaghetti noodle-like structures seen on the underside of this vibrant “Bat Star” (Patiria miniata)!
All echinoderms have tube feet, including sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sand dollars.
Sea stars use their tube feet to pass food into their mouth (which is located centrally on their underside), to attach themselves securely to surfaces (using an excreted chemical adhesive), and to move from place to place.
Here are some additional visual examples of tube feet:
"Ochre Star" (Pisaster ochraceus)
"Bat Star" (Patiria miniata)
"Leather Star" (Dermasterias imbricata)
"Pacific Purple Sea Urchin" (Strongylocentrotus purpureatus)
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