What echinoderms are
Echinoderms are the kind of marine animal this website covers, this page in particular being a rundown on the key characteristics of echinoderms.
Echinoderms are marine organisms like starfish and sea cucumbers that belong to the phylum echinodermata, all echinoderms are defined by the radial symmetry that makes up their body and also their unique water vascular system that allows them to feed and move. All echinoderms are able to live at a variety of depths in the ocean, with some species able to live in shallow and pelagic zones of the ocean, while some are able to inhabit the deepest possible abyssal depths in the ocean. Many echinoderms are also capable of healing wounds and regenerating lost limbs or parts of their body, as examples sea urchins are able to quickly replace lost spines, sea stars and feather stars are able to regrow lost limbs, and sea cucumbers are able to regenerate their own internal organs. All of these features make echinoderms some of the most fascinating, unique and captivating forms of marine life to study due to how unique each kind of echinoderm is.
To the left is a black sea urchin, a kind of echinoderm known for its sharp appearance
Photographic Examples shown below
