WHATSTHATFISH
Sea stars & urchins

Elegant Brittle Sea Star

Ophiomastix variabilis

Also known as: Black Brittle Star, Brittle Sea Star, Brittle Star, Brittle Starfish, Elegant Brittle Starfish, Snake Brittle Star, Starfish, Variable Brittle Star

Adult
@fishx6 · Lembeth Resort, Indonesia · June 20061 / 3
01

Overview

Found in crevices, holes, wrapped around corals, over coral and rocky reefs. Long arms covered in soft spikes, looks like a toilet brush!

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
stripes
Body shape
armsloo brush

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found in crevices, holes, wrapped around corals, over coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 3

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumEchinodermata
    3. classOphiuroidea
    4. orderOphiacanthida
    5. familyOphiocomidae
    6. genusOphiomastix
    7. speciesOphiomastix variabilis Koehler, 1905

    SourcesWoRMSSeaLifeBase

    06

    More in the family

    Ophiacanthida