echinoderm

/ɪˈkaɪnəˌdɜrm/
noun
  1. A sea animal with a hard, spiny skin and a body that is usually divided into five parts, such as a starfish or sea urchin.
    • Marine biologists study echinoderms to understand how they regenerate lost arms.
    • An echinoderm like the sea urchin uses its spines to protect itself from predators.
    • The starfish is a common echinoderm found in tide pools along the coast.