Ophiothrix fragilis is a species of brittle star in the order Ophiurida. There are a few species of shallow water brittle stars.
They exist in every colour under the sun, and some even shine with bioluminescence in the dark. Compared to sea stars, brittle stars' arms and central disk are much more distinctly separated, and their arms allow them to move gracefully and purposefully in a rowing … The oceans of the world today teem with about 2,100 species of brittle stars (scientific name “ophiuroids”), mostly living in deep water. Photo by Lauren Sumner-Rooney Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Though the red brittle star, Ophiocoma wendtii, lacks traditional eyes, new research suggests the species can see visual stimuli. The ophiuroids generally have five long, slender, whip-like arms which may reach up to 60 cm (24 in) in length on the largest specimens. Welcome to the Marine Species Identification Portal! Their long, thin arms—usually five and often forked and spiny—are distinctly set off from the small disk-shaped body. Compared to sea stars, brittle stars' arms and central disk are much more distinctly separated, and their arms allow them to move gracefully and purposefully in a rowing movement.
Brittle star, also called serpent star, any of the 2,100 living species of marine invertebrates constituting the subclass Ophiuroidea (phylum Echinodermata). The aim and contents of this portal, as well as the lastest updates, are treated in. Brittle stars (Ophiurida) are echinoderms, the same family that includes sea stars (commonly called starfish), sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. Brittle stars (Ophiurida) are echinoderms, the same family that includes sea stars (commonly called starfish), sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. These species live in the sand or mud just below the low tide mark. There are about 1500 species of brittle stars alive today and most species inhabit marine habitats with depths greater than 1500 feet. If so, this case can be seen as an interesting example of hyper-symbiosis among mobile macroinvertebrates: the brittle star is the symbiont of a soft coral, and the eulimids are the symbionts of the brittle stars. We can suppose that Ophiothrix (Acanthophiothrix) purpurea, is a generalist symbiont with a high range of hosts (mainly soft corals). STRANGELY ELEGANT and beautiful, brittle stars are a group of starfish-like sea creatures. It is also found along the coast of South Africa where it is known as the hairy brittle star. It is found around the coasts of western Europe and is known in Britain as the common brittle star. They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms for locomotion.
This site offers information on thousands of different species in the world's oceans and seas. The arms readily break off but soon regrow— i.e., are regenerated. Brittle stars or ophiuroids are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea closely related to starfish. Brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) are a group of echinoderms that resemble starfish.