Starfish by the starfish in an escape response. The loss of parts of the body is achieved by the rapid softening of a special type of connective tissue in response to nervous signals. This type of tissue is called catch connective tissue and is found in most echinoderms. An autotomy-promoting factor has been identified which, when injected into another starfish, causes rapid shedding of arms. The lifespan of a starfish varies considerably between species, generally being longer in larger forms and in those with planktonic larvae. For example, "Leptasterias hexactis" broods a small number of large-yolked eggs. It has an adult
Cairo spiny mouse Red List of Threatened Species, lists it as being of "Least Concern". A recent study, still under peer review at the time of writing, indicates that this species could become a candidate animal model for the human menstrual cycle. It exhibits a 9-day cycle, and is the first rodent found to have such a cycle. Gene sequencing is currently underway to investigate this, and other unique physiological traits displayed by this species. Cairo spiny mouse The Cairo spiny mouse ("Acomys cahirinus"), also known as the common spiny mouse, Egyptian spiny mouse, or Arabian spiny mouse, is a nocturnal species of