How Do Starfish Mate
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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A starfish is an invertebrate sea animal with a star-shaped body and usually five arms
Image: Pexels
Starfish mate by releasing their eggs and sperm directly into the water, a process called spawning
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In this process, fertilisation occurs externally without any physical contact between the male and female starfish
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They "broadcast" their gametes into the ocean and rely on water currents to bring them together for fertilisation
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Each starfish arm contains gonads that store eggs (female) or sperm (male)
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Once released into the water, the eggs and sperm meet and fertilization happens outside the body
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Sometimes, starfish gather in groups called spawning aggregations to increase the chances of successful fertilisation
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Fertilised eggs develop into free-swimming larvae before settling on the seabed and growing into adult starfish
Image: Pexels
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