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Nine-Armed Sea Star

The nine-armed sea star (Luidia senegalensis) is a species of starfish native to the western Atlantic Ocean. It is found at depths of up to 130 feet (40 meters) around the coasts of Florida, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and along the coast of South America as far south as southern Brazil. This species had long, slim tapering arms attached to a small circular central disc. It typically has nine arms grows to a maximum size of about 16 inches (40 centimeters) in diameter. It feeds on detritus and small invertebrates.