Marine invertebrates at various trophic levels point at an important role in many ecosystems. Echinoderms (Greek for "spiny skin") is a phylum which contains only marine invertebrates. The adults are recognizable by their radial symmetry (usually five-point) and include starfish, sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers, as well as the sea lilies. Echinoderms are found at every ocean depth, from the intertidal zone to the abyssal zone. The phylum contains about 7000 living species, making it the second-largest grouping of deuterostomes (a superphylum), after the chordates (which include the vertebrates, such as birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles). Echinoderms are unique among
Starfish and Coffee featured on Starfish and Coffee's self-titled album. In September 2006, Childress was asked to perform a charity concert in Atlanta by musician Andrew Adler of the local band The Hot Rods. Childress gave a noncommittal reply which Adler interpreted as a definite "yes" and was accidentally booked to perform as The Ross Childress Experience. Childress asked Bo Bentley (bass) and Thomas Michael (drums) to play with him, and the trio decided to form a band following the positive response of their gig at the charity concert. On May 25, 2007, the band performed their first concert under the name Starfish