No, starfish cannot swim like fish do.
While commonly called "starfish," scientists prefer the term "sea stars" because they are not fish (Reference: 03-Jan-2019). A key difference highlighting this is that sea stars lack fins. Because they don't have fins, they can't swim around like fish can (Reference: 03-Jan-2019). This means that their mode of movement is fundamentally different.
Instead of swimming, sea stars move using hundreds of tube feet located on their undersides. These tube feet work using a water vascular system, allowing them to grip surfaces and move slowly across the seabed.
Here's a summary of why starfish (sea stars) cannot swim in the way that fish do:
- Lack of Fins: They do not possess fins for propulsion.
- Water Vascular System: They utilize tube feet and a water vascular system for movement across surfaces, not through water.
