Ophiopsila polyacantha Brittle Star

Ophiopsila polyacantha is commonly referred to as Brittle Star. Difficulty in the aquarium: There are no reports available yet that this animal has already been kept in captivity successfully. Toxicity: Toxic hazard unknown.

Scott & Jeanette Johnson, Kwajalein Unterwater

Brittlestar - Ophiopsila polyacantha, ,Anilao 2016

An underground brittle star, Ophiopsila polyacantha, with long tentacles coiled at each end for capturing plankton. 5 inches (12cm).
Courtesy of the author Scott & Jeanette Johnson, Kwajalein Unterwater . Please visit www.underwaterkwaj.com for more information.

Uploaded by Muelly.

Image detail

Profile

lexID:: 14121
AphiaID:: 244018

Scientific:: Ophiopsila polyacantha
German:: Schlangenstern
English:: Brittle Star

Category:

Family tree:: Animalia (Kingdom) > Echinodermata (Phylum) > Ophiuroidea (Class) > Amphilepidida (Order) > Ophiopsilidae (Family) > Ophiopsila (Genus) > polyacantha (Species)
Initial determination:: H.L. Clark, 1915

Occurrence:: Alor, Anilao, Bali, Borneo (Kalimantan), Indo Pacific, Indonesia, Lembeh Strait, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sulawesi Utara, Thailand, Tulamben
Marine Zone:: Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, deep zone of the oceans from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. neritic.
Sea depth:: 0 - 60 Meter
Habitats:: Sandy sea floors, Soft grounds
Size:: up to 4.72" (12 cm)
Temperature:: °F - 78.8 °F (°C - 26°C)
Food:: Detritus, Filter feeder, No reliable information available, Plankton
Difficulty:: There are no reports available yet that this animal has already been kept in captivity successfully
Offspring:: Not available as offspring
Toxicity:: Toxic hazard unknown

CITES:

Not evaluated

Red List:

Not evaluated (NE)

Related species at Catalog of Life:

Ophiopsila abscissa
Ophiopsila annulosa
Schlangenstern
Ophiopsila aranea
Schlangenstern
Ophiopsila bispinosa
Ophiopsila brevisquama
Ophiopsila californica
Kalifornischer Schlangenstern
Ophiopsila caribea
Ophiopsila dilatata
Ophiopsila fulva
Ophiopsila glabra
Ophiopsila guineensis
Ophiopsila hartmeyeri
Ophiopsila maculata
Ophiopsila multipapillata
Ophiopsila multispina
Ophiopsila novaezealandiae
Ophiopsila pantherina
Ophiopsila paucispina
Ophiopsila picturata
Ophiopsila platispina
Ophiopsila polyacantha
Schlangenstern
Ophiopsila polysticta
Ophiopsila riisei
Ophiopsila seminuda
Ophiopsila squamifera
Ophiopsila timida
Ophiopsila vittata

Author:: Meerwasser-Lexikon Team
Publisher:: Meerwasser-Lexikon.de
Created:: 2021-09-24 16:06:57
Last edit:: 2026-01-12 22:13:19

Info

Ophiopsila polyacantha H.L. Clark, 1915

Ophiopsila is a genus of brittle star belonging to the family Ophiocomidae. Many species are bioluminescent. Ophiopsila polyacantha extends its arms to feed from a burrow in the sediment.

Similar to Ophiopsila australis.

External links

underwaterkwaj.com (en). Abgerufen am 24.09.2021.
WoRMS (en). Abgerufen am 24.09.2021.

Pictures

Commonly

Brittlestar - Ophiopsila polyacantha, A close-up of a curled arm tip of a feeding Ophiopsila polycantha.,Anilao 2016

Brittlestar - Ophiopsila polyacantha, ,Anilao 2016

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