Cannibalism In Baby Sea Stars Found

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Two researchers, originally researching how baby sea stars react to crabs, have discovered that baby Forbes' sea stars eat their own family members.

They, "All started eating each other before we even introduced the crabs. So we had to scrap that experiment," said John Allen, in a statement.

Allen is the associate professor at William and Mary's Department of Biology.

After the experiment backfired, John and his colleagues adapted to studying cannibalism in baby sea stars.

Studies have already shown that sea stars will eat small larval sea stars, but this is the first study to show that juveniles will eat other sea stars of about the same size. Allen's team found that the larger sea star would always eat smaller sea stars.

According to National Geographic, full-grown Forbes' sea stars grow between 4.7 and 9.4 inches.

Just like other animals like caterpillars, Forbes' sea stars go through metamorphosis. Metamorphosis allows them to mature into adult sea stars. Allen's team found that sea stars would consume each other within a minimum of 4 days after metamorphosis.

Their cardiac stomach was used to digest other sea stars.

Allen's team says that although cannibalism is wrong, studies like these support the claim that cannibalism can be found in many different animals.