How do sea stars eat without a mouth on their surface?

Sea stars eat by extending their stomachs out of their bodies through their mouths, which are located on their underside. They use this method to envelop and digest prey externally, such as mussels and clams. Once the prey is liquefied, they retract their stomachs back into their body. This feeding strategy allows sea stars to consume prey that other predators cannot easily access, such as tightly closed shellfish.