**"Serene Stars of the Sea: The Galactic Tale of Starfish"**
**Starfish: An Overview**
Starfish, or sea stars, as they are occasionally known by those who
 take their names too literally (or too poetically), are not a frequent
 topic of conversation among the galaxy's hitchhiking community. This
 is primarily because a) they lack the ability to hitchhike themselves,
 having neither thumbs to raise nor an inherent desire to travel at
 speeds that could squish their rather delicate forms, and b) because
 they have not yet mastered intergalactic debate, or any form of debate
 for that matter, seeing as they lack both mouths and brains in the
 traditional sense, which admittedly has not halted some politicians.
However, in the interest of universal understanding and the sharing of
 trivia, which is an important social lubricant at gatherings dominated
 by beings from varying gravitational and atmospheric conditions, we
 present to you a comprehensive, yet entirely manageable, article on
 starfish.
**Habitat and Distribution**
Starfish are found in a variety of cosmic locations but tend to prefer
 the watery ones, specifically oceans. Earth's ocean, while not the
 most thrilling aquatic environment in the Milky Way, has a remarkable
 diversity of these creatures, ranging from the tropics to the icy
 poles. It's worth noting that while there are environments in the
 galaxy where beings exist in states that would humble even the most
 imaginative Earthly marine biologists, none possess the exact charm of
 the Earth's starfish.
**Physiology**
A common starfish has multiple arms, usually five, but evolution, in
 its infinite jest, has provided examples of species with more. These
 arms are used for movement and for surprising small creatures, which
 they consume in a manner that polite society prevents us from
 detailing here. Suffice it to say, it involves their stomachs, but not
 in the way you're used to.
The truly fascinating thing about starfish, which could be considered
 their party trick if ever they were to throw a party and had guests
 capable of understanding tricks, is their ability to regenerate lost
 limbs. This makes them rather resilient to accidents and unfortunate
 encounters with sea predators and bored marine biology students.
**Cultural Impact**
On most planets, starfish have not made significant cultural impacts,
 primarily because they don't do much that is noteworthy by
 interstellar entertainment standards, like singing, dancing, or
 rebelling against intergalactic overloads. On Earth, however, they
 have inspired countless pieces of jewelry, tacky holiday souvenirs,
 and at least one famous children's story involving throwing them back
 into the ocean.
**In Galactic Cuisine**
While not a popular menu item across the galaxy   most beings prefer
 their food to not potentially crawl away from their plates   starfish
 are considered a delicacy on certain obscure planets. The taste has
 been described as "an acquired sensation," with
 "sensation" being the operative word given that the flavor
 is often likened to licking a battery that's been dipped in seawater.
**In Summary**
While not the most exhilarating creatures in the galaxy, starfish hold
 a certain fascination for those interested in the quieter, more
 regenerative side of life. They don't sing, dance, or hurl comets
 through the cosmos, but in their serene, unassuming existence, they
 remind many hitchhikers of the beauty inherent in simply being.
Remember, the galaxy is vast, and while its more flamboyant residents
 may steal the spotlight, there's something to be said for the subtle,
 silent types like the starfish. After all, how many beings can lose an
 arm in the morning and have a new one by tea time?
This has been an entry from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
 Remember: don't panic, and always know where your towel is.