Spear Fishing with Viking and Hermit

April 21, 2014 by

spear fishing

Spear Fishing with Viking and Hermit at Hermit Island Bay is not the usual spear fishing trip…

You can learn spear fishing too, and take a peek inside the spear fishing children’s illustrated adventure you can read in Book 1 & Book 2.

Here’s a little from the story…

 

“Hermit?”

 

“Yes, Viking.”

 

“Why must I learn to fish?”

 

“Because, you must learn to catch your food.”

 

“But, Hermit?”

 

“Yes, Viking.”

 

“You have many fish already, and can fish for us both.”

 

“So, why must I learn to fish, Hermit?”

 

“Because, you must learn to provide for yourself, and to not be dependent on me. What if something happens to me?”

 

“Hermit.”

 

“Yes, Viking.”

 

“I already know how to fish.  I don’t need to learn how to fish.”

 

“You already know how to fish?… but you don’t know spear fishing on Hermit Island at Hermit Bay, do you?”

 

“No, Hermit.”

 

“Well, come then Viking…let me show you.”

 

spear fishing

 

Diving from Above with a Spear:

Here’s a little more with Viking and her spear from Book 2…

 

Hermit?”

 

“Yes, Viking.”

 

“I see some fish below.  Should I try to spear one?”

 

“You should certainly try, Viking.  When Sasha comes down in the water, you must have your trusty spear ready at that instant.

 

You only have a split second to land, and spear your catch.  I told you spear fishing is different here, didn’t I.”

 

Hermit smiles at her with a chuckle under his breath.

 

Viking looks at Hermit, squints her eyes and presses her lips with determination.  Vikings lips then turn into a smirk.

 

“We shall see, Hermit…we shall see!”

 

…Sasha and Viking shoot down from the sky over the fish.

 

“There girl…now!”

 

spear fishing

You can find out how Viking does with her spear fishing in Book 2: The Grabbas Are Coming.

spear fishingLearn Spear Fishing…

There is more to spear fishing than you think.  Here are some interesting facts from Wikipedia…

Spear fishing is an ancient method of fishing that has been used throughout the world for millennia. Early civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks.

Today modern spearfishing makes use of elastic powered spearguns and slings, or compressed gas pneumatic powered spearguns, to strike the hunted fish. Specialised techniques and equipment have been developed for various types of aquatic environments and target fish.

Spearfishing may be done using free-diving, snorkelling, or scuba diving techniques. Spearfishing while using scuba equipment is illegal in some countries. The use of mechanically powered spearguns is also outlawed in some countries and jurisdictions. Spearfishing is highly selective, normally uses no bait and has no by-catch.

History of Spear Fishing…

Spearfishing with barbed poles (harpoons) was widespread in palaeolithic times.[1]Cosquer cave in Southern France contains cave art over 16,000 years old, including drawings of seals which appear to have been harpooned.

There are references to fishing with spears in ancient literature; though, in most cases, the descriptions do not go into detail.

The Greek historian Polybius (ca 203 BC–120 BC), in his Histories, describes hunting for swordfish by using a harpoon with a barbed and detachable head.[2]

In a parody of fishing, a type of gladiator called retiarius carried a trident and a casting-net. He fought the murmillo, who carried a short sword and a helmet with the image of a fish on the front.

Copper harpoons were known to the seafaring Harappans[3] well into antiquity.[4] Early hunters in India include the Mincopiepeople, aboriginal inhabitants of India’s Andaman and Nicobar islands, who have used harpoons with long cords for fishing since early times.[5]

 

spear fishingDid you know using a spear to hunt fish in the water was that old?

 

Viking and Hermit want you to come with them on their spear fishing adventure!

 

~Courtney & Betina

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Viking Learns How to Swim Fast

February 8, 2014 by

how to swim

Viking and her Father approach the water…

“Father?”

“Yes, Viking”

“Do you think I will ever be fast enough to swim in the boy’s relay?”

“I think that is very possible, Viking.  You just need to work on your swim stroke more.”

How to Swim Fast with a Better Swim Stroke…

“Will you show me what I can do better with my swimming stroke, Father?”

“Certainly.  Now swim out to those rocks and back, and I’ll see how you are swimming.  Remember to cup your hands, and gently place them through the water, even though you are trying to do it very fast.

Try not to fight or slap the water, and be as smooth as you can.  Then, keep your flutter kick very strong, and breathe less often.”

“Yes, Father.  This time I will swim so fast.”

“Off to the starting rocks then.”

“You mean over there with the shallow, rocky bottom?”

“Yes, Viking.”

“But Father, I will scrape myself on the rocks.”

“Only if you dive the wrong way.  Not if you dive the right way before swimming.  In order to swim fast, and race with the boys, your dive has to be better than theirs, and it will make your swimming faster.”

“How do I not scrape myself?”

“You have to make your dive before swimming much longer and stretched out to get past the danger below, and when you hit the water, you will stay as close to the water surface as you can.  If you think about being as long and flat and shallow as possible over the water, you will clear the danger.”

“Okay, I think I can do it!”

how to swim

 

Swimmimg Faster Starts with The Right Dive Over the Water…

Viking steps to the rocks above the sharp shallows.  She is nervous, but confident she can follow her father’s instructions to better her swimming stroke. When she faces a challenge, she feels stronger.

“Swimmer take your mark!”

Viking bends down to touch the ground at her feet, waiting for her starting command, and thinking about each stroke…

“Go!”

She pushes off, and makes her body shoot like an arrow over the water.

how to swim

She sees the sharp edges through the clear water, as she flies over them.

How to Swim…

The danger disappears, and there is only blue water below.  She enters the water just at the surface with her fingertips and forehead, and extends forward even more.  She clears, and breaks into her swimming stroke and kick, except the one small scrape she can feel on her big toe.

Now She is Swimming…

She flutter kicks hard and strong, and swims her hands, cupped and pulling through with each stroke.  She holds her breath longer, and keeps swimming while thinking about each carefully placed stroke with her arms, hands and fingers.

A Swimming Finish… 

She reaches and touches the last rock wall with her last stroke under her father’s feet, and grabs her long-waited breath.

“How was that swim, Father?”

“That swim was pretty impressive…fast indeed.  Did you scrape yourself?”

“Just my toe.”

“Let’s see.”

“Oh, it’s just a scratch. Let’s go home and show it to your Mother.  She’ll take care of it.  We can tell her about your fast swim and best dive today.

You did well today, Viking.”

He picks up her special helmet he had made for her, and places it on her head.  He pats the top, and looks her in the eyes and smiles.

“Well done my daughter.”

Viking picks up a flower, and puts it in her hair, and smiles back.

how to swim

How to Swim Fast…You can too, and read about more swimming in Book 3: Shaku Riding

Courtney & Betina

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How to Lasso a Shaku Fish

January 14, 2014 by

how to lasso

It takes a rope, a knot, a tie and a lasso to lasso a Shaku Fish…

Hermit swings the lasso rope, with a tie and loop over his head.  He twirls his lasso rope like a spinning wheel in the air.

The mare is just across the meadow, chewing on grass, and she doesn’t hear Hermit approaching.

With his lasso rope spinning, he steps on a small tree branch, and it crunches out a sound.  He glances down at his foot in its sandal, and sees how large and young it appears.

“Wait…that’s not my foot.”

He thinks as he takes a quick breath, and opens his eyes.

Above is the shimmering coral ceiling of his clam house shell, instead of his lasso rope.

“Where am I?  Ahh…it is just a dream.” He says to himself.

He lifts up the bed covers, and swings his legs out, touching his feet to the ground.

“Now, those are my feet…old and small.”

He gets up, and stretches his arms while yawning.

Then plucks the lasso from the wall, and checks the tie knot.  The tie and knot are strong, and the braided jute rope is rough and sharp in his hand.

“I think I’d better practice my rope lasso throwing today.  You never know when I’ll need it.”

 

…Good thing he got to practice how to lasso thanks to his dream, because he will need it.  He’ll definitely need it.  

 

Here’s a bit of what happened from Book 3–The Viking & the hermit: Shaku Riding

 

First, meet Shaku…

how to lasso

How to Lasso a Shaku Fish…

A Lasso Trick

Hermit thinks he will slip his lasso rope over Shaku’s head as it shoots by the rock, but which side will that be?

He watches Shaku’s tail fin to clue him in. “Right, left, right, left, left…got him!”

how to lasso

Hermit breaks free, and Shaku runs the length of the rope to snap it. Hermit knows that rope and knot tie will not last long.

Find out what happens next! Read The Viking & the hermit: Shaku Riding.

 

More on How to Lasso:

Most people know a lariat as a lasso, but the word lasso actually refers to the act of throwing the looped end of a lariat rope.

Instructions

Slip your rope through the small loop tie at the end of the lasso rope called the honda knot. Form a noose approximately one to two feet in diameter.

  • Hold the rope loop lightly in your right hand a foot or so from the honda knot. Coil the rest of the lasso rope in your left hand leaving 5 to 6 feet of kink-free rope between the noose and the coil.

    • Position yourself in front of a target…

    • Relax your wrist and slowly begin to swing the lasso rope over your head, right to left. Expert ropers suggest thinking of your wrist as an axle and the lasso rope loop as a wheel revolving horizontally over and around your head.

    • Cast the rope loop by swinging your arm quickly forward. As you move your arm forward bring your wrist down to shoulder level and extend your arm out. Be careful not to interfere with the motion of the lasso. Let your palm open and swing the rope toward the target.

    • Strive to send the noose on a straight, level course to your target by maintaining a smooth steady rhythm as you cast. Keep your arm and wrist straight and extended toward the target. The force you use to thrust the loop forward will also play a role in how far your lasso rope goes.

    • Pull the length of lasso rope coiled in you left hand to tighten the tie loop around your target.

How to Lasso & More on the Honda Knot Tie

Honda Knot Tie

This is the knot tie all cowboys use to form their lasso or lariat. The Honda Knot creates the most nearly-perfect circle of any knot. Its round shape, especially in a stiff rope tie, helps it slide freely along the rope…which is what makes it good for a lasso.

Do you think you could lasso this?…

how to lasso

How to Lasso a Shaku Fish

Subscribe and get a FREE Coloring Picture of Shaku for your kids!

Courtney & Betina

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How to Sound a Seashell: Hermipedia

November 11, 2013 by

sea shell

Come along with Hermit and Hermipedia today, and learn to Sound a Seashell…

 

…When he swam ashore all those years ago, he made it to the beach and collapsed with exhaustion.

 

He could feel the sunburn on his cheeks and the sand between his fingers, but he could not remember how he got there.

 

…Hermit looks around the beach at his surroundings to get his bearings, and pulls himself up to his feet.  He looks across the water to the tall cliff in the distance.  He’ll climb up it to see where he is, and know more about this new place.

As he walks along the sand, the waves tumble a large seashell in front of his path.  This will come in handy, he thinks to himself. He picks up the seashell, and carries it.

The shell is large and heavy, and it must have housed a large sea snail.  He wonders if he will be able to eat one?  He will need to find some food eventually.

He inspects the shell inside, and peeks in to see if it is nice and clean as he walks along.  The seashell is in fine condition, and he turns it to look at the spire end. There is a hole cut there, maybe by some predator, and he places the seashell up to his lips like a trumpet.

He wonders if he can make a sound from the shell by blowing, and a funny tune comes to his head…

 

She sells seashells by the sea shore…duh, dah, deet dah, bum, bum, bum-buh.

 

Where did he get that tune he wonders?

With the seashell at his lips, he closes them, and blows the air vibrating through, and buzzing into the shell.

 

Bzz, bzz sea shells, bzz, bzz, sea shore

 

He almost got it!  What a good shell from the sea this is indeed.

The base of the rock cliff is just ahead, and Hermit leaps to the first rocks.  He grabs with one hand and holds his seashell in the other, pushing up with his legs, and pulling with his one arm–he easily navigates up each rock crevice to the top of the cliff.

sea shell

He springs to the top, and looks around at this new Island.  Across the bay waters are more rock cliffs, and there is a natural cove shape that will most likely house many good fish to eat.

Behind him is a valley and clearing, and beyond that seems to be a stretching meadow.  He pauses, and shuts out the sound of the waves below, and hears more running water past the meadow field.  There must be a river too, he thinks.

This place offers much in ways to catch and grow food, and the running river water should be easy to drink.  He looks out over the bay again, and sees some darker areas, where it must be quite deep.

There is so much here to work with, maybe there are already other people here, he questions?

Hermit brings the seashell up to his buzzing lips again, and this time gives a longer, drawn out buzzing blow of air…

 

heeaawwh…heeaaawwhh…heeaawwhh

 

sea shell

 

 

He looks down and around to see if anyone will appear. He waits, and tries again with his new shell…three times buzzing the seashell out over the land and waters.

He catches in the corner of his eye some bubbles rising from the deep, darker part of the water.  They grow larger and larger, and Hermit drops the seashell from his mouth to gaze in wonder.

What is coming up from the waters, he asks, and did my new seashell stir it or them?

Soon, orange color peeks up through the blue, and now Hermit is getting a little nervous. He is so preoccupied looking, that he doesn’t even see the sea stars moving up the rocks below.

seashell

There they were…giant seahorses rising up to the top, peering at him with their big black eyes!

They must have heard his seashell sound, and have come to meet him.  He’ll climb down, and get closer.

To be continued…

How to Sound a Sea Shell: Hermipedia

Courtney & Betina

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A Modern Hermit: Hermipedia

November 4, 2013 by

 

modern hermit

Hermit is a Modern Hermit.

Once Viking arrived on his Island world, Hermit knew he must provide some modern amenities and life for this new female presence.

After all, Hermit’s Man Cave Clam Cave is quite nice and modern for himself, but it caters to a man’s tastes, and even though Viking appears to be strong, athletic and adaptive, he knows that she will want some of the finer, modern surroundings most females prefer in life.

Hermit looks around at all of his tools and weapons in his clam shell, hanging so neatly organized, and placed just so, and chuckles at all of his work he can do so easily.

He decides he will craft a new modern life for her new world!

modern hermit

A Modern Hair Comb Carved of Tortoise-Shell for a Modern Life…

Hermit returns to his center table in his clam cave, and carefully shaves and shapes this beautiful, modern hair comb with his sharp knife. While carving, he thinks back to the first day they met on his Island world, and how she startled him from his sleep.

Here’s part of that story…

 

How Viking and Hermit Met…

 

Hermit awakes from a deep sleep to the sound of his shell bells.  Those bells only sound if someone or some thing nears.

Hermit feels a tingle in his belly.  Who or what can it be?  His memories of others is faint, and he can’t remember any faces…not even his own.

When he swam ashore all those years ago, he made it to the beach and collapsed with exhaustion.  He could feel the sunburn on his cheeks, and the sand between his fingers, but he couldn’t remember how he got there.

Every time he caught a fish, planted a seed or started a fire, he didn’t know how he knew such things.  And there were so many things he knew.  He could build anything, craft any tool, harvest any crop, and calculate the hours.

Hermit gathered seashells from his island beach, and punctured a small hole into each shell.  He strung a small rock through each, and hung them on the bushes of his pathway.

Something now approaches…

Get the full story by subscribing to our monthly newsletter!

 

Back to Hermit’s modern tortoise-shell carving…

In these new, modern times on Hermit Island with this new female leading the way on modern life…making Hermit feel young, and keeping an old Hermit company, Hermit wants Viking to feel as comfortable as possible, and prepared her clam shell with necessary modern updates.

Modern Updates for A New Life

First, he cleared out all of his extra tools and weapons hanging on the walls, except the long spear that she would possibly need during the night to defend herself from the roaming gitchoos, in case they somehow entered her clam shell.

For modern use, she needed some kind of table to keep her personal items, and since she lost everything but her sword and shield that the sea storm washed away, she needed a new, modern bag to carry things for her new life in this world with Hermit, and at least a comb to part and braid her hair in the mornings.

Making that modern bag from finely braided and vegetable dyed jute was a great lesson and task, and she was amazed and enthralled by Hermit’s skills to create such fine, modern work. She practiced the braiding method with him, and can’t wait for more projects like that for her new life.

It also matches her shield.

modern hermit

More Modern Updates

Hermit rubs and polishes Viking’s hair comb for the finished touch, and looks to the special compact sea shell he made for her to keep a few red berries, blended with aloe cream lip balm. She can keep it in her new modern bag, and it will be a surprise gift, he thinks.

Hermit smiles, thinking of how much she’ll like that, because he wants her to feel welcome and comfortable in her new world, just as he over the many years.

Viking Loves Her New Modern Gifts…

modern hermit

Life on the world of Hermit Island isn’t so bad.

Courtney & Betina

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Dictionary of The World of Hermit Island: Hermipedia

October 19, 2013 by

dictionary

Hermipedia Feature: Dictionary & Background of The World of Hermit Island

Hermit Island is a different place indeed!  To some, it is a place of myth that holds the stories of those lost at sea over many years, and to others, like Viking and Hermit, this world is very real, and what they know and learn every day.

What is this world defined, and who are Viking and Hermit?  What is the background of this mysterious Island world, and the dictionary background and stories of Viking and Hermit?

Let’s define and explore these questions with a Dictionary & Background of The World of Hermit Island, to reveal definitions and details we may already know, and ones to learn still.

In order to learn everything about this fairy tale myth, you must read our stories.

Now, the Background and Dictionary of this World…so far:

Dictionary Hermit Background

dictionary

 

The background of Hermit comes to him in his dreams, or while he is practicing his spear throwing, rope braiding, or harvesting his growing crops.  His background reveals itself in pieces, like deja vu moments , when he feels that he has lived that exact moment before, and it is repeated somehow.

He knows the memory is true, but somewhere lost in his thoughts that he cannot find.

Dictionary Background of a Soldier

His background is one of a valiant soldier and leader, and he surely knows he did learn much from his days spent as one.  How else would he learn to survive so well on this Island world, is what he thinks to himself?

Dictionary of Survival Instincts

Where did he learn to spear fish, learn to build a fire, throw his spear with such accuracy, speed and distance?  Where did he learn to swim, grow food, carve and craft tools, and live off the land?

How did he learn to ride Kasha the seahorse so easily, and devise such strategy for surviving the dangerous roaming night animals on this Island world with his clever clam house shells?

dictionary

Dictionary Background of a Time Before

Sometimes while he is working, he sees his hands in front of him, and they are very young and large.  They are missing their wrinkles, and belong to a man of great size.  His old hands still possess that amazing strength and grip. They just look different now.

At these flashing moments to his youth, he considers he may have spent time here on this Island world before as a younger man, and even a time before these many current years.  Did he wash up to the beach of this world twice, he thinks to himself?

And why is this young Viking girl so familiar to him?

Dictionary of  Mystery

This world of myth and mystery only knows.  Only it holds the key to these burning questions to learn.  Somewhere out there in that sea, beyond Hermit Bay where he helps Viking learn to spear fish, those churning waters know too.

dictionary

Background Dictionary To Be Continued…

Dictionary of The World of Hermit Island: Hermipedia

~Courtney & Betina

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Viking Games: Hermipedia

October 5, 2013 by

viking games

Welcome to Our Hermipedia Feature: Viking Games

Hermipedia is our part fiction, part fact presentation of everything you want or need to know about the characters, setting and things on Hermit Island, where our children’s book series, The Viking and the hermit takes place.

If you’d like to read all of our Hermipedia, just click on it at the bottom of this post, and it will give you the entire series to read and learn with your kids, and to just have fun…of course!

Now on to learning more about Viking Games!

Vikings would play a variety of games from swimming, running and racing, horse fighting, wrestling, skiing, curling, and a number of board games similar to chess.

Viking Games: Curling

The curling game was similar to shuffleboard with Scottish origins, where to play, you slide stones over a sheet of ice to reach a target area of four rings. Curling game has a nickname of  “Chess on Ice”, and the vikings likely adopted these same style games with specific movements of game pieces to specific target game areas either on a board or on a sheet of ice, as a type of game of strategy they liked to play.

Viking Games: Board Games

The Viking Games on boards, usually had a King piece in the center of the board, that was trying to reach the outer edges of the board, and the larger number of pieces were trying to capture the King piece in the process.

This board game was called “Tafl”, and it spread everywhere the Vikings travelled, including Northern Europe, Ireland and England from earlier than 400 AD.  It wasn’t until the 12th century that it was rivaled by the game of chess.

More Viking Games:

Since Vikings liked to battle, they valued athletic skills, and in particular needed great strength to handle a battle axe, sword and shield.  They also needed to have endurance to run, and to swim well, since they spent much of their time on the water in Viking ships.

Viking’s Favorite Game in Our Story

Viking from our Viking and the hermit story, is an accomplished swimmer, and upon earning her place among the Viking men on Viking fishing trips, she then convinced her father to teach her to use a sword and shield.

Viking’s favorite game will always be swimming in the water, where she is most comfortable, very fast, and able to hold her breath under water for a very long time.

Being so comfortable in the water helps Viking to learn to spear fish with Hermit at Hermit Island Bay, where she must ride Sasha over the water and away from the uggies to catch her fish…

viking games

What’s your favorite Viking Game?

Viking Games: Hermipedia

Courtney & Betina

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Sea Urchin Uggies of Hermit Island Bay

September 26, 2013 by

sea urchinToday for Hermipedia, we’re covering Sea Urchins…

There in the water of Hermit Island Bay rest many sea urchins just waiting for something to come near.

These sea urchin uggies poke, strike or stab with their needle like spines, and they own the sandy floor bottom of the sea Bay.

Only the seahorses can make their way, touching down in just the right places of the sandy floor, and if you’re going to go spear fishing in the shallow sea waters, you’d better be on a seahorse like Sasha or Kasha.

Why do the sea urchin uggies like to stab, strike and sting so much?  It’s hard to say, but they do, and you’d better watch out!

sea urchin

Differences and Similarities of Sea Urchins and Uggies…

Urchins vs. Uggie Shape and Movement

A sea urchin got its name from the hedgehog, because it is round in shape, and has similar looking spines.  Our Hermit Island uggie urchins are not as round in shape, but have their own individual shapes like a plant or bush.

The typical urchins do not have a layer of muscle that allow them to move their body parts, but the uggies of Hermit Island do have this muscle layer, and they can move and strike with their spines at will.  They can also control the extension and direction of their urchin like striking spines.

Urchins and Uggie Spines

The spines of uggies can extend out to almost 12 inches, and you cannot determine an area of the uggie body that appears to be a short spine as in safe distance from your body.  Any size of uggie urchin spines can lengthen at will, and reach an object with close enough distance.

Large or small, each uggie urchin can be unpredictable, and the stab from one can be extremely painful.  If the urchin spines break off in your skin, they must be removed immediately.

Urchins and Uggie Faces

The normal sea urchins do have a mouth, but do not have eyes like our sea urchin uggies do.  The ability to see and move, makes uggie urchins more dangerous, and only the sensors in the tails of Hermit Island seahorses give an ability to navigate away from their striking spines.

Uggies like to make a certain face when they think they can strike, a bit like this…

sea urchin

 

Will Viking avoid a strike learning to spear fish?  You’ll have to find out!

Sea Urchin Uggies of Hermit Island Bay: Hermipedia

Courtney & Betina

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Recipes Hermipedia: Hot Spiced Fig-The Viking and the hermit

September 10, 2013 by

recipes

It’s a lovely day for Recipes Hermipedia, isn’t it?

Hermit can be quite the chef, and today he and Viking will gather all of the food necessary to make a favorite to drink at sunset…Hot Spiced Fig Recipe.

Recipes, recipes are fun to make

Let’s take a break for food that’s great

I’m chef, you’re chef too

It’s food for you

It’s fun to do!

Recipes Hermipedia: Hot Spiced Fig…

recipes

Recipes for you to share: The Viking and the hermit

~Courtney & Betina

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Sea Star Grabbas of Hermit Island-Hermipedia: The Viking and the hermit

September 1, 2013 by

sea star

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: Sea Star Grabbas of Hermit Island…

A sea star is a starfish, and there are a bunch of sea star starfish Grabbas on Hermit Island, where our children’s book series, The Viking and the hermit takes place.

Sea Star Starfish Grabbas Species of Hermit Bay

The starfish Grabbas species in the waters of Hermit Bay are different from a regular sea star starfish.

Let’s run through some similarities and differences in the species!

How Many Species of Starfish and Where Do They Live?

First, did you know that about 1500 species of starfish live in the oceans? A starfish can live in the tropics as well as the polar subzero waters, and they can be found as far down in the depths of the sea as 20,000 feet.

Our starfish Grabbas species in our story, and in the waters of Hermit Bay live in a more tropical environment.

So far, Hermit has only found them as far down as where the seahorses take him, but it is quite likely they do live as far down as 20,ooo feet as well.

Star Shape and Size

They get their name from their star shape, but the starfish Grabbas happen to be quite a bit larger than the typical sea star. Whereas most species are about the size of an adult hand, our starfish species are about the size of a smaller octopus, and even as big as Hermit.

Most of our star species have five arms, which they use to swim, and climb over rocks both in the sea and on land.  They can even climb up to the top of a cliff, and spring off to fly in the air.

This usually happens when you spear fish, because they like to steal the fish that you’ve already caught.

Since most starfish are opportunistic predators, our sea star species pose a greater threat based on their sheer size. Plus, they are able to hunt and eat prey much larger than their mouths, much the same as typical species.

Starfish Speed

The typical starfish species move very slowly at a pace of 6 inches in 1 minute. But our star species are capable of very fast speeds, and they can be down in the depths of the sea, and up to the cliff of the rocks, to spring to your fish caught on your spear in under 5 minutes.

This sea star below started on the sandy floor…

sea star

Then the sea star starfish and friends climbed all the way up the rock cliff really fast!…

sea star

Starfish Brain Power

Unlike regular starfish species which lack a brain, our species do have brain power, and communicate with each other in their own way.  They work together as a team to move and distract their prey, and in particular are drawn to any fishing activity in the sea, where they can attempt to grab, and steal away a caught fish on a spear.

Just ask Viking and Hermit!

Sea Star Grabbas of Hermit Island-Hermipedia: The Viking and the hermit

~Courtney & Betina

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P.S. Can you guess why Hermit named them Grabbas?

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