Almost all animals have symmetrical bodies. Bilateral symmetry is almost universal in all animals and is only very rarely broken—with exceptions like the five-armed starfish or crab species that have ...

The star shape of the starfish (five arms) is intriguing to many marine aficionados. But how it came to be is a question not many can answer. It is due to a gap in the fossil record of echinoderms, ...

Putting function before form, members of the Perissodinus genus of fish have developed a hugely lopsided jaw that provides a distinct feeding advantage. Researchers describe how these scale-eating ...

Starfish are some of the most recognisable animals in the world. But their simple appearance belies an evolutionary mystery - how did these animals evolve such an unusual shape? A new fossil discovery ...

A typical starfish has five-sided symmetry. With no clear head, the starfish can move in any direction, led by any one of its five arms. If you were feeling particularly cruel, you could fold one up ...