Mary Allen
Introduction: What Are Brittle Stars?
Brittle stars are marine invertebrates that belong to the class Ophiuroidea. Unlike their close relatives, the starfish, brittle stars have a slender, elongated body with long, spiny arms that are attached to a central disk. They are called “brittle” because their arms can easily break off, allowing them to escape from predators. Brittle stars are found in all oceans of the world, from the shallowest tidal pools to the deepest ocean trenches.
Anatomy and Behavior of Brittle Stars
Brittle stars have a simple body structure with no head, and their arms are used for movement and feeding. They have a water vascular system that helps them move and capture food, and their tube feet are used for both locomotion and feeding. Brittle stars are also able to regenerate lost arms, which is an important feature in their survival. They are primarily nocturnal and feed on small organisms such as plankton, detritus, and small crustaceans. Brittle stars are also known for their ability to autotomize or break off their arms as a defense mechanism against predators.