Elegant Brittle Sea Star
| Scientific Name: | Ophiomastix variabilis |
| Species: | Sea Stars (Ophiocomidae) |
| Other names: |
Brittle Sea Stars, Star Fish, Snake Brittle Star, Elegant Brittle Starfish, Brittle Starfish, Brittle Sea Star, Brittle Star, Black Brittle Star, Variable Brittle Star. |
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Elegant Brittle Sea StarUploaded by: @fishx6 in June 2006
Photographed at: Lembeth Resort - Indonesia
Caption: brittle star in the bottom left of picture
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Elegant Brittle Sea StarUploaded by: @fishx6 in June 2006
Photographed at: Lembeth Resort - Indonesia
Caption: No caption available
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Elegant Brittle Sea StarUploaded by: @blogie in November 2011
Photographed at: Limao Reef, Samal Island, Philippines - Philippines
Caption: Photo taken during a night dive.
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Description
Also known as Brittle Sea Stars, Starfish, Snake Brittle Star, Elegant Brittle Starfish, Brittle Starfish, Brittle Sea Star, Brittle Star, Black Brittle Star and Variable Brittle Star.
Found in holes and crevices on coral and rocky reefs.
Long arms covered in soft spikes.
Looks like a toilet brush!
They feed on plankton, detritus, molluscs and worms.
Length - 20cm
Depth - 3-20m
Widespread Indo-Pacific
Sea Stars have remarkable regenerative powers, when attacked and damaged by predators they are able to grow new arms. They usually have five arms but have been found with 4 or 6 arms, this may be because more than one arm has been damaged at one time!
They possess a cleverly evolved arsenal of hydraulic tube feet connected to an elaborate water-vascular system that encircles the animal's mouth and extends via five radial canals down the centre of each arm.
Their mouth is underneath, but their prey is absorbed outside their mouths by forcing out their digestive organs from their stomach.
Sea Stars are carnivores and feed on almost any food including molluscs, worms, detritus and each other!
Some sea stars like the crown of thorns can be venomous.
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