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Anonymous
ITT, starfishes.

Does anybody else find these creatures absolutely fascinating? They're like the ultimate indestructible sea-creature. Some species can regenerate themselves entirely from a single leg.
>> Anonymous
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I think starfishes are extremely cute and fascinating, and think we should post more about them!
>> Anonymous
No brains, either. And yet, its still alive. They're pretty amazing.
>> Anonymous
>>194110
Same applies for a lot of simple organisms. Jellyfish for example.
>> Anonymous
>>194111
Yes, but starfish are much, much cuter.
>> Anonymous
kinda like the average 4channer
no brains, yet still alive
>> Anonymous
not as indestructible as you might think, lots have complex diets that are hard to replicate. the linkia pictured in the OP has a horrible long term survival record in captivity
>> Anonymous
Their little fingers (?) whatever they are, feel so weird when you're holding them in the palm of your hand.

If they have no brain, does that mean they don't feel pain too? Because some kids at the reef just yank them off rocks when they're suctioned to it. I'll be relieved to know they don't feel pain.
>> Anonymous
how the hell do they move around if they have no brain?!

freaky animals.
>> Anonymous
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OM NOM NOM
>> Anonymous
>>194229

Nerve clusters that simulate a brain.
>> Anonymous
>>194215
>>194229

What>>194283said.

A living thing does not need a "brain" or centralized thought organ in order to be sentient.

Though this brings up the problem of whether or not plants feel the ouch.
>> Anonymous
>>194294
Starfish are sentient?
>> Anonymous
>>194297
They are able to sense and/or perceive their surroundings using sensory organs/organelles, so yes, they are sentient.

They aren't sapient, though.
>> Anonymous
>>194315
By that definition, bacteria are sentient. I contend that the first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry on sentience is misleading in this case.
>> Anonymous
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lol, starfish
>> Anonymous
>>194315
>>194320

Well, bacteria is more like automated robots.
I'd say sentience is whether or not they can think, either WHAT IS LOVE (humans) or DURRRHURRR FOOD (most low-level animals). The base requirement being just able to think about something, whether or not it's actions are decided by instinct or not. Kinda like you thinking "yum" when eating tasty food rather than gulping it down with no emotion whatsoever.
>> Anonymous
>>194354
Flies are said to have basic sentience because they show preference to certain stimulus over another. Or in non-sciencese, they like certain smells or tastes better than others.
>> Anonymous
One time down the shore (in New Jersey) the entire beach and in the shallows of the water there were broken black shells all stuck to eachother and fucking thousands of small starfish mixed up with them. They were all alive, orange, had a blue eye in the middle, and about 3 inches long. Anyone know what that would be about?
>> Anonymous
>>194402
alien invasion
>> Anonymous
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Got one in my reef tank.
>> Anonymous
THEN SOMEONE WENT UNDER A DOCK, AND THERE THEY SAWWWW A ROOOOOOCK..
>> Anonymous
>>194461
But it wasn't a rock.......
>> Anonymous
>>194464
it was a rock lobster