Starfish sex isn’t exactly what you’d call romantic. No sweet nothings or tender caresses here. Or any sort of physical contact whatsoever, for that matter.
Like many marine invertebrates, starfish simply cast their eggs and sperm into the water and entrust the role of matchmaker to the tides and currents.
Ejaculating into the plankton layer is not an entirely lonely endeavour, though. After all, successful fertilisation does require that you’re not the only one doing it.
Happily, it’s all far more pleasing to the eye than it could be, as demonstrated by this spawning Leach’s starfish in Japan.