A starfish is classified as a consumer. Specifically, it is a carnivorous echinoderm that feeds on other marine organisms, such as mollusks and bivalves. Starfish do not produce their own food like plants do through photosynthesis; instead, they obtain their nutrients by consuming other organisms in their environment.
Starfish have a unique feeding mechanism. They can extrude their stomachs out of their bodies to envelop and digest prey externally. This allows them to access nutrients from animals with hard shells, which would otherwise be difficult for them to eat. As consumers, starfish play an essential role in the marine ecosystem, helping to keep populations of other marine animals in balance.