West Indian starfish or sea star (Oreaster reticulatus) is found from the Carolinas and Bermuda south through the Bahamas to Brazil. This is a large bulky starfish usually found in shallow water among seagrass where it is sometimes quite common. This is the largest Florida starfish, and it can reach about 20 inches across. This species can have from four to seven arms. The upper surface is dotted with blunt spines. The color is variable. This species was named by Linneaus.

Some well respected taxonomists ignore the order level in starfish taxonomy and jump from the class level directly to family.

Starfish class (Class Asteroidea) is easily recognized by having five (more or less) large thick legs that radiate from a central body.

Starfish group (Phylum Echinoderma) contains some diverse marine creatures. Echinoderms generally have radial symmetry. Some well-known examples of Echinoderms are starfish and sea urchins. There are about 6,000 extant species of Echinoderms (and many additional fossil species). The following classes are contained in this phylum:

Echinodea: - Sea Urchins - (900 species)
Asteroidea: - Starfish - (1,600 species)
Holothurioidea: - Sea Cucumbers - (900 species)
Ophiuroidea: - Brittle Stars - (2,000 species)
Crinoidea: - Feather Stars and Sea Lilies - (600 species)

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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