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Brittle and Basket Stars: Ophiuroidea - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Dwarf Brittle Star (amphipholis Squamata): Species Accounts, Tropical Brittle Star (ophiactis Savignyi): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, BASKE

sea live eat water

DWARF BRITTLE STAR (Amphipholis squamata): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
TROPICAL BRITTLE STAR (Ophiactis savignyi): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Brittle and basket stars live in all the oceans of the world.


Some brittle and basket stars burrow into muddy or sandy sea bottoms. Others live on or among algae, sponges, and coral. Algae (AL-jee) are plantlike growths that live in water and have no true roots, stems, or leaves.


Some brittle and basket stars eat sea animals, alive or dead. Others eat particles from the bottom or from the open water.

Brittle and basket stars have no known importance to people.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Brittle stars and basket stars, sea lilies and feather stars, sea stars, sea daisies, sea urchins and sand dollars, and sea cucumbers all belong to the group of animals called echinoderms (ih-KYE-nuh-durhms), which means "prickly skin."

Brittle and basket stars are not considered threatened or endangered.

Additional Topics

Brittle and Basket Stars: Ophiuroidea - Physical Characteristics

Brittle and Basket Stars: Ophiuroidea - Behavior And Reproduction

Many brittle and basket stars move by powerful arm strokes that lift their bodies and thrust them forward. Other species slither along the bottom. Brittle stars are good climbers and can cling to rocks or coral above the sea floor. Brittle stars break off their arms or parts of their bodies to escape from predators. The lost body parts grow back. Most brittle and basket stars have separate sexes. …

Brittle and Basket Stars: Ophiuroidea - Dwarf Brittle Star (amphipholis Squamata): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: The body of dwarf brittle stars is only about 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) across, bluish or gray, circular, and covered with scales. The arms are short and thin and are orange, dark brown, beige, black, or gray. Geographic range: Dwarf brittle stars live in all oceans of the world. Habitat: Near the shore dwarf brittle stars live among algae, sea moss, and similar growths.…

Brittle and Basket Stars: Ophiuroidea - Tropical Brittle Star (ophiactis Savignyi): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Tropical brittle stars usually have six arms. The body is 0.04 to 0.1 inches (1 to 3 millimeters) across. These stars are green with darker markings. Geographic range: Tropical brittle stars live all over the world. Habitat: Tropical brittle stars live among algae and sponges and hide in reef crevices. Diet: Tropical brittle stars eat small particles from the surface they…

Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars: Echinoidea - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Sea Urchins, Sand Dollars, And People, Long-spined Sea Urchin (diadema Savignyi): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS [next] [back] Sea Daisies: Concentricycloidea - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Medusiform Sea Daisy (xyloplax Medusiformis): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, SEA DAISIES AND PEOPLE, CONSERVATION STATUS

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9 months ago

francisca

this site really helped me on the subject i was loooking for