Distribution
About 1,600 living species of starfish are known. Echinoderms maintain a delicate internal electrolyte balance in their bodies and this is only possible in a marine environment. This means that starfish occur in all of the Earth's oceans but are not found in any freshwater habitats. The greatest variety of species is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Other areas known for their great diversity include the tropical-temperate regions around Australia, the tropical East Pacific and the cold-temperate water of the North Pacific (California to Alaska). All starfish live on the sea bed but their larvae are planktonic, which allows them to disperse to new locations. Habitats range from tropical coral reefs, rocks, shell brash, gravel, mud and sand to kelp forests, seagrass meadows and the deep-sea floor.
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