Tag: starfish

Boating At Last, and A Sea Star At High Tide

Getting out on the water and found an awesome sea star!

Finally, we went out on the boat for a ride. The day was beautiful, the water was cool (74 degrees), and the tide was high, meaning there were not many beaches to visit.

I did get to walk a little on one of my favorite beaches, but it was a little depressing. Someone had left a bag of trash on the shore and the garbage was strewn up the sand. Also, a man was digging around and scanning the sand with a metal detector. I know a lot of people use them, but it seemed like an odd place to search.

Long Beach view
Island beach
Clear water at high tide
Can you spot the sea star?

I like to be out on the water and get away from that kind of thing, but it seems that it is everywhere. What is wrong with simply enjoying the water and sand?

As I walked down to the far end of the island, I spotted what looked like a starfish just offshore. And YES… it was a starfish! I carefully scooped him up to get a quick photo and then put him back.

Sea star under water
Sea star or starfish with five legs
The shore area where I found the sea star

These were just about the only photos I took because we spend a lot of time riding around. We saw only one dolphin, no manatees, and only a few hermit crabs, so not a big day for discoveries – other than that awesome starfish.

As we headed south to Mosquito Lagoon, the water became choppy, so we came back. Summer is coming and hopefully we will be getting out more often.

The camper has not sold, so I’m getting it packed back up for a camping trip to Anastasia State Park near St. Augustine. We have not camped there yet, but there is ocean access, and I look forward to checking it out. More to come on that.

Thanks for reading!

Starfish, or Sea Stars, Coloring Page Printout

One of the first “seashells” I wrote about on this blog was the starfish. However, it is not a seashell but echinoderm and is related to the sea urchin, sea cucumber and sand dollar. In other words, they don’t have a hard shell. If you find dried starfish, they can break easily.

Where I live in Florida I have never found a starfish, living or dead. But the State Park I visit has specimens of Florida starfish under glass. In fact, near the rest rooms, they have all kinds of dried and dead things. One item looked like the huge head of a sea turtle! I should have taken a photo – maybe next time.

Starfish under glass at Smyrna Dunes Park
Locally found starfish

Starfish live offshore, as do most mollusks with shells. But starfish and other echinoderms are not as sturdy as a hard shell and therefore most likely break apart because of wave action once they are dead. I find pieces of sand dollars near Ponce Inlet and sometimes at the drive-on ocean beach, but I think dead starfish are pulverized before they get to the beach.

My Drawings Are Free For Personal Use

Please help yourself to the printable images below and maybe use them as a teaching page / coloring page for the kids. As long as you do not sell my images, use them as you please. Make copies for friends and classroom use. A link back here is appreciated when the chance arises.

I’m no expert on marine life, and certainly not on starfish. The Florida Fish and Wildlife site has a full page, with photos of living creatures and links to each Marine Life Invertebrates including a few starfish. It’s an interesting page.

starfish coloring page
Download and use at home to color
starfish coloring page with 9-legged starfish
Florida starfish

Two Starfish Coloring Page

starfish coloring page
Sea Stars / starfish