Why some sea stars choose devoted parenting over mass reproduction
In short: While most sea stars release eggs into the open ocean, the six-rayed sea star takes a different approach. This video explores the unusual brooding behavior of the Leptasterias genus, showing how mothers protect their young for months.
Most sea stars rely on broadcast spawning, releasing vast quantities of eggs and sperm into the water to develop independently. This high-volume strategy often results in very few individuals reaching adulthood. In contrast, the six-rayed sea star, found along the California shoreline, practices brooding. Berenice Baca-Ceballos of San Francisco State University describes the mother sitting on her eggs for approximately two to three months.
This intensive care ensures that the juveniles—which resemble delicate, living snowflakes—are sufficiently developed before they venture out to hunt. While this method produces fewer offspring than spawning, it significantly increases the survival chances of the young. Once independent, these tiny predators, roughly the size of a bottle cap, begin hunting their own prey.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Watch This Starfish Protect Her Babies From Danger | Deep Look
- Also: www.pbs.org — Deep Look | Watch This Starfish Protect Her Babies From Danger | Season 11 | Episode 9
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