Lessons from the Sea

Who am I? I live in the sea, usually in a crevice, under a rock, or even on a ledge in shallow water near the low tide level. Others of my kind live on sand or mud flats in sheltered water, and some even lie exposed on the rocky sea floor in deeper waters.

I am circular in shape and may be anywhere from one-half to fifteen inches long. Because I am a member of the echinoderm family, I boast a five-spoke pattern on each end of my body. I have a crown of thick tentacles that are used for feeding. I can contract and withdraw these tentacles into myself.

My mouth is located at the center of a ring of tentacles on my head. I feed on a variety of things, depending on my living quarters. For example, if I’m attached to a rock, I feed on microscopic