Sea Star Wasting Syndrome: mysterious epidemic devastates starfish population off the Pacific Coast

Nobody seems to know why the starfish on the west coast are dying. So far about a dozen different species of starfish have been dying from California to Alaska. It’s been called Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. The starfish rip themselves apart by the arms crawling away from the body until the body rips apart. No one has yet suggested suicide. Scientists are worried that since starfish control other populations a decline in the starfish population could upset the ecological balance. There is hope that the mystery will be solved but scientists haven’t announced anything yet.

[via: cheezburger]