Description

Also known as Australian Brittle Star, Banded Brittle Star, Brittle Sea Star, Brittle Star, Serpent Star, Snake Star, Spider Brittle Star, Starfish.

Found singly or in groups, under boulders in tidal areas during the day, moving away from light when exposed. They spread their arms at night to catch food. Long arms covered in soft spikes, looks like a toilet brush! A common brittle star in Sydney.
They feed on detritus and zooplankton.
Length - 15cm
Depth - 1-180m
Widespread Australia

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. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophionereis_schayeri