When directly exposed to air, Starfish will die immediately, or at least within a few seconds.
Sea creatures, like all living organisms need to breathe in order to survive. They can only breathe in underwater. Starfish has tube feet and tiny pimples that can be find all over its body, which is equipped with very thin tissue. They breathe through these feet and tiny pimples.
The Breathing Process:
Diffusion is a process that takes place when the thin tissue allows gasses to move through it. Starfish are different from fish. Fish are equipped with two gills that they use to breathe with. Starfish breathes through all its tiny pimples at once. Their gills are found all over their body.
Picture breathing from all the tiny pimples and then every one of them gets poisoned simultaneously. This is what happens when we lift starfish out of the water. Fresh air is poisonous to their breathing system.
Unable to absorb the oxygen that they need when lifted from the water, will prevent them from releasing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from their body and in then, will lead to carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide poisoning. This poisoning will cause them to die.
Causes of Death:
For a starfish to be out of their habitat, is extremely stressful. The slightest changes imposed on their environment, can be deadly for their species.
Human contact, for instance, is a horrific experience for them. Although starfish are beautiful and unique aquatic species, humans must be educated about the fragility of sea creatures. Even a gentle touch can hurt and scar them. To forcefully remove these creatures out of their habitat without proper handling, is very risky. Having so many tiny structures all over their bodies, one can never be certain whether moving them, hurt them or not. Just because you cannot see the damage inflicted, does not mean that you did not impose damage to the well-being of this magnificent creature.
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