Search results
Brittle stars, serpent stars, or ophiuroids (from Latin ophiurus 'brittle star'; from Ancient Greek ὄφις (óphis) 'serpent', and οὐρά (ourá) 'tail'; referring to the serpent-like arms of the brittle star) are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea, closely related to starfish. They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms ...
Did you know that the brittle star's mouth contains not one, not two, but five jaws. Learn more about brittle stars with this ocean wildlife factsheet.
Brittle star, any of the 2,100 living species of marine invertebrates constituting the subclass Ophiuroidea (phylum Echinodermata). Their long, thin arms—usually five and often forked and spiny—are distinctly set off from the small disk-shaped body.
Jul 25, 2023 · Habitat, Range & Distribution of Brittle Star. Brittle stars can be found in all of the world’s oceans, ranging from the deepest sea to intertidal zones, and including both salt and brackish polar areas. These marine creatures can also be available in temperate and tropical waters.
Jun 15, 2019 · Brittle stars (Ophiurida) are echinoderms, the same family that includes sea stars (commonly called starfish), sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. 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.
This study of corals coping with an oil spill shows that a seemingly insignificant brittle star clinging to its branches may be a deep-sea coral’s first line of defense. But even the best of friendships have their limits, as the oil spill caused the numbers of these defenders to decline.
Aug 13, 2019 · But although sea stars and brittle stars are similar, they’re actually quite different! Follow along as we explain what makes these colorful invertebrates unique (and why you should love them both).
Jan 13, 2021 · While they both have that star-quality, brittle stars and sea stars are quite different. Next time you’re exploring, you can tell the difference between these two invertebrates by their body shape, arms, and the way they move!
21 hours ago · Sea stars and brittle stars belong to the phylum Echinodermata, which also includes sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea lilies and feather stars (Fig. 1a).Among these echinoderm lineages, brittle ...
Millions of Brittle Stars. A huge colony of brittle stars (likely Ophiacantha rosea) covers the peak of a seamount in the deep ocean. What’s the attraction?
