Starfish Starfish Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or "basket stars". About 1,500 species of starfish occur on the seabed in all the world's oceans, from the tropics to frigid polar waters. They are found from the intertidal zone down to abyssal depths, below the surface. Starfish are marine invertebrates. They typically have a central disc and five arms, though some species have a larger number of arms. The aboral or upper surface may be smooth,
Broad-headed spiny rat Broad-headed spiny rat The broad-headed spiny rat ("Clyomys laticeps") is a spiny rat species from South America. The etymology of the species name is the Latin word "laticeps" meaning "wide-headed". The species has a head-body length that ranges from , with a tail long, and weigh between . They have short ears and limbs, and feet with powerful claws adapted for digging. The fur is interspersed with spines; it is grizzled reddish or yellowish and black over most of the body, and paler grey to almost white on the underparts. Broad-headed spiny rats are native to southern Brazil and eastern