Rare video captures hundreds of tiny feet starfish use to escape predators

By Jessica Hehir Smith via SWNS

This video shows how starfish use the HUNDREDS of tiny ‘tube’ feet to move quickly and avoid predators - in a process rarely caught on camera.

Sarah Hodgson, who works for Dorset Wildlife Trust as the Coastal Centres Assistant, recorded the videos after spotting a cushion star while at Kimmeridge Bay.

Although the cushion star might be a familiar sight whilst rockpooling, Sarah described how she rushed to get the moment the starfish began moving on video.

“Whenever you find a cushion star they don’t really appear to move," she said.

"It’s incredible to get a great video where you can actually see what’s going on beneath with all the tiny tube feet expanding to let water in and contracting to push it back out."

Sea stars (or starfish) have rows of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of tiny tube feet.

“They are able to move using their rows of tiny ‘tube feet’. They are controlled by an internal hydraulic system, allowing them to expand and contract their ‘feet’ to move," Sarah said.

“Kimmeridge Bay is part of the Purbeck Coast Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), as the tide falls, ledges are uncovered and rockpools appear, home to an array of colorful seaweeds and amazing, rare creatures from cushion stars to small fish and crustaceans."

Sarah’s job gives her access to a wealth of information about Britain’s marine wildlife, which she believes would benefit everyone.

Her work for the Dorset Wildlife Trust explores how to get more people involved with the education and preservation of marine life.

“Rockpooling is a fun activity for the whole family. It’s always really exciting to look underneath a rock on the seashore and discover the creatures that are hiding beneath, these cushion stars are definitely a favorite find on our rockpool rambles," she said.

“Sadly, like the rest of the world, Dorset’s marine life is under threat. DWT have launched a marine appeal to protect wildlife on the Dorset coast from the devastating impacts of climate change, pollution and disturbance.

“Rare videos like this can only exist with happy, healthy marine life - we have to protect it!"

The footage was filmed on December 6.