Most species of starfish shed their eggs and sperm freely into the water, so fertilization is externally. The very small chance of fertilization is compensated by the enormous amounts of eggs and sperm cells. A female starfish sheds in two hours several millions of eggs into the water, with a mean diameter of 0.16-0.19 mm . After fertilization, a hollow ball develops, called the blastula. The cells of the blastula possess cilia on the outside for swimming. After one day a deep groove develops, leading to the gastrula. The gastrula's of all types of echinoderms are very similar. But then differentiation starts. The common starfish develops a so-called bipinnaria larva, with ciliated bands running about the periphery, a beautiful sight.
After several weeks the bipinnaria larva takes on a more elaborate form, with longer projecting arms and after some more weeks, a brachiolaria larva is formed. The larvae have their own gut, with inside cilia to inhale and transport food particles. They feed themselves with diatoms and other organisms in the plankton. The stomach is large and round and situated at the back side.