What are echinoderms?

Echinoderms are animals that live in the ocean and have spiky, bumpy bodies, kind of like a sea version of a hedgehog.

Imagine you’re playing with a ball made of tiny bumps and spikes, that’s what echinoderms look like! Some are round, like a sea urchin, others are flat, like a starfish. They have lots of arms or points sticking out, which help them move around and catch food.

Echinoderms don’t walk like you do, they use their tube feet! These little stretchy legs pop out from all over their body and stick to the ocean floor, helping them crawl along. It’s kind of like having hundreds of tiny toes that can grab and pull you forward.

Think about a starfish. When it wants to move, its tube feet come out one by one, like little fingers reaching for something to hold on to. That helps the starfish glide across the ocean floor, just like a slow-moving robot!