Mysterious stranding of 50,000 starfish

[Hum]

It was a surreal and somewhat ghostly sight: that of perhaps 50,000 starfish that somehow had come ashore overnight, en masse, and perished on a secluded beach in Ireland. The Belfast Telegraph reports that harsh weather might have been responsible for last week's peculiar and mysterious event, on Lissadell Beach.

Bill Crowe, a marine biologist at Sligo Institute of Technology, theorized that the starfish (also called sea stars) might have been lifted ashore while feeding on mussel beds in the near shore tidal zone. They were spread over nearly 500 feet of coastline.

"The most likely explanation is that they were feeding on mussels, but it is a little strange that none of them were attached to mussels when they were washed in," Crowe said.

A toxic algae bloom would seem another possible explanation, but no other type of marine life was affected. Only starfish, mostly adult size, were found on the beach.

Equally mysterious is that virtually all of the starfish were dead, meaning they had succumbed surprisingly quickly after coming or being delivered ashore.

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[moloko]

Sad to see so many die.

[Hum]

Wonder what they'll do with all the bodies -- throw them back into the sea ... ?

[_neutrino Veteran]

that is very crazy.

[Teebor]

PATRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and dear god those things are HUGE, they make the people look like they are tiny in the background

[Hum]

^ Probably using a fish-eye lens ;)

[Detection]

Wonder what they'll do with all the bodies -- throw them back into the sea ... ?

Seagulls, crabs etc will eat them no doubt

[Growled Member]

I wonder if something is wrong with our planet for so many animals to be acting so strangely.

[Tuishimi]

Something's wrong alright, and we are the strangest animal of them all...

[remixedcat]

PATRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and dear god those things are HUGE, they make the people look like they are tiny in the background

his family!

[Luc2k]

Needs some ketchup.

[Hum]

I wonder if something is not wrong with our planet for so many animals to be acting so strangely.

Many animals 'mass suicide' as a way of protest to humans. ;)

[Growled Member]

Many animals 'mass suicide' as a way of protest to humans. ;)

I wonder when humans will start to do that.

[Hum]

Seagulls, crabs etc will eat them no doubt

I can see McDonald's snapping them up, for the fish sandwiches. :laugh:

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

I can see McDonald's snapping them up, for the fish sandwiches. :laugh:

 

Fillet O Starfish?

[francescob]

Reverse Aquaman's attack has begun!

[vcfan]

mmmm

[bradsday]

I wonder if something is wrong with our planet for so many animals to be acting so strangely.

 

 

[IsItPluggedIn]

Fillet O Starfish?

 

Wow you must of been super bored over the holiday period to pull a thread from November 2012.

 

I was confused why the link didnt work.

[spacer]

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

Wow you must of been super bored over the holiday period to pull a thread from November 2012.

 

I was confused why the link didnt work.

 

I didn't pull it, I saw it in the Forum Spy thing on the front page so someone else must've pulled it before I did. That said, I can't actually find my post in here now. Can't think why anybody would want to delete it though?

[flynempire]

That sucks. Star Fish are cool and sad to see this occur