Brittle Star
Common Name: Brittle Star
Scientific Name: Ophiura ophiura
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Other Taxonomy: Subphylum: Asterozoa
Specimen #:44
Circumstance: Observed in lab and the bio tank
Specimen Condition: Specimen on the left was alive and the specimen on the right was dead
Location: Alfred bio lab and Alfred bio tank
Typical Habitat: Many of the ophiuroids are rarely encountered in the relatively shallow depths normally visited by humans, but they are a diverse group. There are over 2,000 species of brittle stars living today. More than 1200 of these species are found in deep waters, greater than 200 metres deep
Invasive? not invasive
Natural area of growth: Many of the ophiuroids are rarely encountered in the relatively shallow depths normally visited by humans, but they are a diverse group. There are over 2,000 species of brittle stars living today. More than 1200 of these species are found in deep waters, greater than 200 metres deep. Ophiuroids live at depths from 16–35 m, all over the world. Basket stars are usually confined to the deeper parts of this range. Ophiuroids are known even from abyssal (>6000 m) depths. However brittle stars are also common, if cryptic, members of reef communities, where they hide under rocks and even within other living organisms. A few ophiuroid species can even tolerate brackish water, an ability otherwise almost unknown among echinoderms
Relationship with humans: Brittle stars are not used as food, even though they are non-toxic.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star
Scientific Name: Ophiura ophiura
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Other Taxonomy: Subphylum: Asterozoa
Specimen #:44
Circumstance: Observed in lab and the bio tank
Specimen Condition: Specimen on the left was alive and the specimen on the right was dead
Location: Alfred bio lab and Alfred bio tank
Typical Habitat: Many of the ophiuroids are rarely encountered in the relatively shallow depths normally visited by humans, but they are a diverse group. There are over 2,000 species of brittle stars living today. More than 1200 of these species are found in deep waters, greater than 200 metres deep
Invasive? not invasive
Natural area of growth: Many of the ophiuroids are rarely encountered in the relatively shallow depths normally visited by humans, but they are a diverse group. There are over 2,000 species of brittle stars living today. More than 1200 of these species are found in deep waters, greater than 200 metres deep. Ophiuroids live at depths from 16–35 m, all over the world. Basket stars are usually confined to the deeper parts of this range. Ophiuroids are known even from abyssal (>6000 m) depths. However brittle stars are also common, if cryptic, members of reef communities, where they hide under rocks and even within other living organisms. A few ophiuroid species can even tolerate brackish water, an ability otherwise almost unknown among echinoderms
Relationship with humans: Brittle stars are not used as food, even though they are non-toxic.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star