This Valentine's Day season, you may be wondering whether undersea creatures can give their hearts away on the most romantic of holidays. The answer is…complicated. While some may be seen as heartless others have more hearts than you might expect!

A galaxy of sea stars. Credit: Nancy Sefton.

First on our list are the animals who have bypassed the heart altogether. Sea stars have no hearts, and instead circulate nutrient-filled seawater through their bodies with a water vascular system. While sea stars may be lacking in the cardiac department, they make up for it with all their arms. With the five-armed variety being the most familiar, some species can have up to 10, 20, and even 40 arms - all the better to hug each other!

This benthic octopus is in the perfect color for Valentine's Day. Credit: NOAA/Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Next up in our lineup is the amazing octopus! They boast an unusual three hearts: two that pump blood to the gills, collecting oxygen so the octopus can breathe, and a third that circulates the oxygenated blood throughout the rest of the body. They don't stop there - each of their eight arms has its own brain, meaning they have nine in total!

But there's another creature under the sea who has even more hearts. Do you recognize this animal?

A hagfish explores the Atlantic off the coast of Florida. Credit: NOAA.

The humble hagfish tops the list with four hearts! While you might not want to receive a bouquet of these from your beloved, hagfish serve an important function in the marine ecosystem, cleaning the ocean floor and recycling nutrients.They are also impressive escape artists, capable of great dexterity in order to evade predators and able to emit up to six gallons of mucous to render themselves unpalatable. Despite their plethora of hearts, hagfish may not be the animal you want to cuddle up to on Valentine's Day. Luckily, Hagfish Day is celebrated each year on the third Wednesday of October in recognition of their special qualities and environmental contributions.

Need a little help sending some love from your one, human heart this season? Check out the following collections of NOAA Valentine's Day cards:

• NOAA Valentines Day cards
• NOAA Fisheries Valentine's Day cards
• NESDIS Valentine's Day cards