BRITTLE STARFISH
- Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Echinodermata
- Subphylum: Asterozoa
- Class: Ophiuroidea
- Order: Ophiurida
- Suborder: Ophiurina
- Family: Ophiotrichidae
- Scientific name: Ophiothrix fragilis
Morphology
Most brittle stars have five long, thin, spiny arms that give off from a flat central disk. If a brittle star's arm is cut off, it will regrow. Most brittle stars are under 1 inch in diameter. They have a hard endoskeleton and vary in color. They do not have a brain they just have a simple ring of nerve cells that moves information around the body. The tube feet located along the arms sense light and smells. Brittle stars have raidial symmetry.
WHERE ARE BRITTLE STARS FOUND?
What is the importance of a brittle star?
Brittle stars are mostly scavengers, so they help to get rid of dead animals and clean up the reef.
Biology
The brittle star is very fragile and can detach it's arm to get away from a predator. It will be able to grow back another identical arm. They're fast, thin, and whip-like arms tend to writhe independently of each other when the animal is disturbed. The brittle star hides under rocks or among seaweeds and eats small particles or small organisms like worms.
Fun facts
- Brittle stars have a life span from 11-20 years.
- They live all oceans world wide.
- Many brittle stars can cast off one or more arms if disturbed or caught by a predator.
- The spiny brittle star is named for the distinct thorn-like spines on its disc and arms.
- The central disc of most species ranges from 1 to 3 cm in diameter.
VOCABULARY
- Brittle Star- has a flat body with a small circle-shaped disk and very long thin arms.
- Tube feet- help in movement and feeding
- Regeneration- when an organism grows back missing parts.
- Echinoderm- invertebrates with a hard skeleton, no head, tube feet, and mouth in the center.
- Spines-rigid and sharp projection on any part of an animal.
Resources
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star
- http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/echinoderm/Brittlestar.shtml
- http://home.earthlink.net/~huskertomkat/brit.html