Archive · 24 Sep 2026
How Crown-of-Thorns Starfish See Without A Central Head
A crown-of-thorns starfish does not have a head or a central brain.
Even so, it can sense what is around it.
Light-sensitive structures are located near the tips of its arms.
These structures detect changes in light.
The starfish can use this information to respond to its surroundings.
It can also help the animal move through its environment.
This is different from animals that use eyes in a head.
The starfish shows that sensing and navigation can work without a conventional head-and-eye system.
Crown-of-thorns starfish have no head or central brain.
They sense their surroundings through light-sensitive structures near their arm tips.
Their visual system helps them respond to changes in light.
The system also helps them navigate their environment.
They achieve this without the conventional head-and-eye arrangement found in many animals.
- Who
- The crown-of-thorns starfish.
- What
- It senses its surroundings and responds to light without a head or central brain.
- When
- Not specified.
- Where
- Not specified.
- Why
- Its light-sensitive arm structures help it respond to changes in light and navigate its environment.
- Animal
- Crown-of-thorns starfish
- Head
- No head
- Central brain
- No central brain
- Light-sensitive structures
- Associated with the tips of its arms
- Main function
- Sensing surroundings and responding to changes in light
- Navigation
- The visual system helps it navigate its environment