What does the starfish do with its stomach when feeding on clams or oysters?

Starfish have a remarkable way of feeding on clams and oysters. Here's how it works:

1. Everting the Stomach: The starfish doesn't have a mouth that can bite through the clam's shell. Instead, it uses its eversible stomach. This means its stomach can turn itself inside out and be pushed out through its mouth.

2. Prizing Open the Shell: The starfish attaches its tube feet to the clam's shell and pulls with great force. This takes a lot of time and energy, sometimes hours or even days.

3. Digesting Inside the Shell: Once the shell is slightly open, the starfish pushes its stomach into the clam's opening. The stomach then secretes digestive enzymes that break down the clam's soft tissues.

4. Absorption: The dissolved food is absorbed directly into the starfish's stomach.

5. Retracting the Stomach: The starfish then retracts its stomach back into its body, leaving only an empty clam shell behind.

It's a fascinating process, showing how adaptable and efficient these creatures are in their feeding habits.