Cushion Sea Starfish: Oreaster reticulatus
A Starfish's mouth is located beneath its body. Food enters the mouth and then is moved directly to the stomach. It is then passed into the secondary stomach. After that, the food is passed to the many digestive glands, which are located in the arms of the fish. The glands secrete enzymes that help break down the food, while also absorbing much needed nutrients. A small intestine runs from the secondary stomach to the excretory system, which is located in the upper body portion of the starfish. A starfish can eat its prey whole, and begin digesting the food before sending it to the digestive glands. Starfish are also able to use their water vascular system to evert its stomach into crustaceans, allowing it to eat them inside the shell. Starfish generally eat smaller crustaceans such as, clams, mollusks, oysters, coral in the reefs, and some eat other sea stars.