Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aiptasia_pallida/ Title: Saltwater/Marine Invertebrates
Species #: 52
Common Name: Common Brittlestar Scientific Name: Ophiothrix fragills Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: None
Class: Ophiuroidae
Order: Ophiurida
Family: Ophiothrichidae
Geography / Habitat: The Common Brittlestar is most commonly found off the shore of the British Isles. They also tend to live in huge groups off shore. The prefer sandy and shell bottoms.
Life Strategy: The Common Brittlestar reproduce by the female releasing her eggs and then the male releases the sperm. The male triggers the female to release her eggs by trying to show off infront of her.
Food / Feed Strategy: The Brittle Starfish is a nocturnal feeder. To feed it lifts its arms to get into cracks and crevices to gets its food. As far as predators go they are one of the most fed on organisms. They get eaten by crabs, fish and sometimes other starfishes.
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Body Form or Style: This starfish has a star shaped figure in the middle and long tentacles coming off of it. Swim / Locomotion Style: They have a crawling motion Mouth Position: Subterminal