Brittle Stars And Basket Stars

Figure 9.Species of the family Ophionereididae. Ophionereis reticulata A dorsal view, detail of the radial shields B ventral view, detail of the genital scale (gs) C jaw D dorsal view of the arms E ventral view of the arms. Ophionereis squamulosa F dorsal view, detail of the accessory dorsal arm plate (adp) G ventral view H jaw I dorsal view of the arms J ventral view of the arms. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 3.Ophiothela mirabilis. A dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm B dorsal view of the arm C ventral view of the arm D dorsal view of the disk E ventral view of the disk F jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm. Ophiactis savignyi G dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm H dorsal view of the arm I ventral view of the arm J dorsal view of the disk K ventral view of the disk L jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 9.Species of the family Ophionereididae. Ophionereis reticulata A dorsal view, detail of the radial shields B ventral view, detail of the genital scale (gs) C jaw D dorsal view of the arms E ventral view of the arms. Ophionereis squamulosa F dorsal view, detail of the accessory dorsal arm plate (adp) G ventral view H jaw I dorsal view of the arms J ventral view of the arms. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 3.Ophiothela mirabilis. A dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm B dorsal view of the arm C ventral view of the arm D dorsal view of the disk E ventral view of the disk F jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm. Ophiactis savignyi G dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm H dorsal view of the arm I ventral view of the arm J dorsal view of the disk K ventral view of the disk L jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 10.Species of the family Ophionereididae. Ophionereis dolabriformis A dorsal view, detail of the radial shields B ventral view, detail of the genital scale (gs) C jaw D dorsal view of the arms E vental view of the arms. Ophionereis olivacea F dorsal view, detail of the radial shields F ventral view, detail of the accessory dorsal arm plate (adp) H jaw I dorsal view of the arms J ventral view of the arms. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 4.Ophiactis simplex. A dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm B dorsal view of the arm. C ventral view of the arm D dorsal view of the disk E ventral view of the disk F jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm. Ophionereis annulata G dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm H dorsal view of the arm (adp = accessory dorsal arm plates) I ventral view of the arm J dorsal view of the disk K ventral view of the disk L jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 10.Species of the family Ophionereididae. Ophionereis dolabriformis A dorsal view, detail of the radial shields B ventral view, detail of the genital scale (gs) C jaw D dorsal view of the arms E vental view of the arms. Ophionereis olivacea F dorsal view, detail of the radial shields F ventral view, detail of the accessory dorsal arm plate (adp) H jaw I dorsal view of the arms J ventral view of the arms. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 4.Ophiactis simplex. A dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm B dorsal view of the arm. C ventral view of the arm D dorsal view of the disk E ventral view of the disk F jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm. Ophionereis annulata G dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm H dorsal view of the arm (adp = accessory dorsal arm plates) I ventral view of the arm J dorsal view of the disk K ventral view of the disk L jaw. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Often found in sand, rocky crevices, and kelp holdfasts. They entrap plankton with sticky secretions on their arms. Sometimes aggregate in huge numbers.These collected individuals were photographed in our lab. Disc diam. 18 mm.

Figure 11.Species of the family Ophiocomidae. Ophiocoma echinata A dorsal view B ventral view, detail of the genital scale (gs) C jaw D dorsal view of the arms E ventral view of the arms. Ophiocoma wendtii F dorsal view G ventral view H jaw I dorsal view of the arms J ventral view of the arms. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 5.Ophiocoma aethiops. A dorsal view. Scale bar = 15 mm B dorsal view of the arm C ventral view of the arm D dorsal view of the disk E ventral view of the disk F jaw. Scale bar = 5 mm. Ophiocoma alexandri G dorsal view H dorsal view of the arm I ventral view of the arm. Scale bar = 15 mm J dorsal view of the disk K ventral view of the disk. L jaw. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Figure 14.Some ophiurans in their natural habitat. A Ophiomyxa flaccida B Ophiolepis impressa C Ophiothrix angulata D Ophiocoma echinata E Ophioderma cinerea F Ophioderma appressa. Photos by Thelma L. P. Dias.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

Description: These basket stars were observed at the top of a ridge on the seabed using their branched arms for filter feeding in the strong currents. Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 16 October 2007

Description: 2 species of ophiuroid (brittle star) on the seabed at Asterix. The smaller species is likely Ophiocten gracilis, (several specimens collected at the site were identified as O. gracilis) while the larger organism is probably Ophiopleura borealis (although no specimen was collected) Item Type: Video Title: Ophiocten gracilis Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Ophiocten gracilis Behaviour: These ophiuroids are very common and quite active, contributing to bioturbation as the arms are moved around Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Asterix Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 1350 Latitude: 5 deg 17' 25" N Longitude: 67 deg 01' 02" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: StatoilHydro, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 018 Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 17 November 2009

Coral Sea, Shot at night, Duration 6 seconds

Cerbère Pyrénées-Orientales France

Figure 3.Species of the family Ophiolepididae. Ophiolepis impressa A dorsal view B ventral view C jaw D detail of the radial shield E ventral view of the arms F dorsal view of the arms. Ophiolepis paucispina G dorsal view H ventral view I jaw J dorsal view of the arms (adp: accessory dorsal arm plate) L ventral view of the arms. Scale bar = 1 mm.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

Description: These basket stars were observed at the top of a ridge on the seabed using their branched arms for filter feeding in the strong currents. Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 16 October 2007