ECHINODERMATA : OPHIURIDA : Ophiuridae | STARFISH, SEA URCHINS, ETC. |
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Ophiura ophiura |
Description: A large active brittle star with short straight arms and a large disc. Colour varies from dull grey-brown to sandy-orange. The disc is patterned with obvious plates. There are well-developed arm combs with about 30 fine papillae and 3 arm spines. The proximal ventral arm plates are separated by paired holes or indentations. Disc 30mm., arms 3.5x disc diameter.
Habitat: Lives on the surface of sand or muddy sand, occasionally burrowing shallowly. Moves rapidly on being disturbed, by a swimming action.
Distribution: Found all round the British Isles from low tide mark to 200m at least.
Similar Species: Small specimens could be mistaken for other Ophiura species. Ophiura sarsi is equally large but the outer arm combs have only 9-12 rather broad papillae.
Key Identification Features:
Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.
WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.
iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Ophiura ophiura (Linnaeus, 1758). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB3150 Accessed on 2025-04-19 |
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