Twitter user @babyshoujo managed to take a picture of what many thought was a starfish. With over 171,000 retweets and 635,000 likes in no time, this twitterer probably had no idea her image would cause such a commotion.

This was not a typical starfish, however. This cartoon-like being boasted what appeared to be a very large derriere! One glimpse of this takes us back to our childhood when we watched Sponge Bob every weekend and laughed at Patrick's wild antics. Yes, this sure looks like starfish with a big butt. And for some reason that is quite hilarious.

What Scientists Want Us to Know However, scientists might not be as amused as the rest of us. Sure, they might laugh for a moment, but marine biologists would like to make one fact clear: That is not a starfish.

What is a Starfish? To put this issue to rest, we'll say it bluntly so that your heartbreak is swift: Starfish do not exist. That's right, they are not real. What you think of as a starfish is neither a star nor a fish. In fact, it's real name is "sea star." Seastars are vastly different from fish. Incredibly, sea stars lack gills, fins, scales, and blood. Meanwhile, fish have all of the above. Much like sea urchins and sea cucumbers, sea stars are echinoderms. An echinoderm is a sea creature that has perfect symmetry. Quirky and magical, these beings can move remarkably fast and function in the deepest parts of the sea.

Miscellaneous Facts About the Sea Star 1) A sea star has a water vascular system. This means that, instead of blood, seawater pumps through its system. Yes, you heard that correctly. Their bodies have no blood at all. 2) These unbelievable creatures speed along at one meter per minute. Using little tube feet instead of fins, they push themselves along, catching prey as they dart across the ocean. 3) Although when we imagine a starfish, more accurately termed a sea star, we envision a lovely 5-pointed animal. Yet, in reality, these amazing critters can have as many as 40 arms. What's even more unusual is that if they lose one, it grows back. Sea stars are carnivorous invertebrates that can live up to 35 years and weigh as much as eleven pounds.

Although technically not a species, the starfish is an esoteric creature that binds us to our childhood days of watching Sponge Bob and dreaming about the sea. So, go ahead and call them starfish. We'll all know what astonishing animal you're referring to.