Class Ophiuroidea.
They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms for locomotion. These breaks can occur anywhere beyond the disc and the lost portions can be regenerated. Ophiuroidea – Brittle Stars. The Ophiuroidea contain more than 2000 species, of which more than 1200 live deeper than 200m. Adults are benthic. Speedy stars: Brittle stars are the fastest-moving echinoderms! Gray, 1840 The adult body of Ophiuroidea (brittle stars and basket stars) is stellate with five unbranched or branched articulated arms; the arms are clearly set off from the central disc (in contrast to the sea stars [Class Asteroidea]). Find Brittle Stars Ophiuroids Echinoderms Class Ophiuroidea stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Ophiuroidea are commonly known as brittle stars based on the fragile nature of their snake-like arms. Ophiuroidea is the largest class among extant Echinodermata. The scientific name is derived from the Greek “ophis” for snake and “ura” for tail.
The Brittle Stars are a class in the phylum of the Echinodermata. The Ophiuroidea (brittle stars and basket stars) are the largest class among extant Echinodermata.
Class Ophiuroidea: Brittle Stars -Aka serpent stars -Very distinct central disc that looks like a pentagon -Long, spiny arms that are very flexible -Do not use water vascular system for movement -ossicles on the bottom & sides of each arm are used to "crawl" -ossicles are … Ophiuroidea (Brittle and basket stars) Phylum Echinodermata. The morphology of this class follows the radial, mobile form of Deline et al.
Within the class Ophiuroidea, for the most part it’s pretty easy to tell the three basic types apart.
Brittle stars or ophiuroids are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea closely related to starfish. Many brittle and serpent stars may initially appear to be very similar, but the outwardly visible difference in the two is the general lack of any projections from the arms of a serpent star.
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Echinodermata: information (1) Echinodermata: pictures (64) Echinodermata: specimens (16) Class Ophiuroidea. The abundance and wide distribution of modern and disarticulated fossil Ophiuroidea , including brittle stars and basket stars, make them an ideal model system for global marine biogeography if we have the phylogenetic framework necessary to link extant and fossil morphology in an evolutionary context. The World Ophiuroidea Database lists over 2,000 species of brittle stars accepted in the Class Ophiuridea, the taxonomic class which contains brittle stars, as well as basket stars and snake stars (Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Echinodermata, Class: Ophiuroidea, Order: Ophiurida). Many of the ophiuroids are rarely encountered in the relatively shallow depths normally visited by humans, but they are a diverse group.
The Brittle or Serpent Stars are grouped as the Class Ophiuroidea, characterized by having highly mobile arms that can be used to assist in (relatively) rapid motion. Many brittle and serpent stars may initially appear to be very similar, but the outwardly visible difference in the two is the general lack of any projections from the arms of a serpent star.
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Number of families 16.
Euryalida: pictures (3) Order Ophiurida. Realistic Cladogram of animal: *Picture to the left* -Shows how brittle stars evolved to become stars, yet not fully develop into a thicker star. Like all echinoderms they are usually pentamerous, although species with six and more arms exist.
Class Ophiuroidea (Ordovician-Recent) Ophiuroidea contains two large clades, the Ophiurida (brittle stars) and Euryalida (basket stars). Their arms move in a snaky manner, 'Ophiuroidea' means 'snake-like'. In basket stars the arms may branch numerous times. Echinodermata sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and relatives. These serpentine arms in turn give them their scientific name: in Greek, "ophis" means snake and "oura" means tail.
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.
These starfish-like echinoderms are decidedly quicker and more delicate than asteroids. Within the class Ophiuroidea, for the most part it’s pretty easy to tell the three basic types apart.
They are characterized by the disk being clearly offset from the arms. -Brittle Stars are very fragile and can cast off one or more arms if disturbed or caught by a predator.
Ophiuroidea: information (1) Ophiuroidea: pictures (8) Ophiuroidea: specimens (2) Order Euryalida. While sea stars use their tube feet to move slowly, brittle stars use their highly flexible, spiny arms instead.