common European brittle star

The common European brittle star (Ophiothrix fragilis) is a marine invertebrate belonging to the Echinodermata phylum. Brittle stars, like the common European brittle star, are characterized by a small, disk-shaped body with long, thin arms that are distinct from the body. These arms, typically five in number, are often spiny and readily break off, but they have the ability to regenerate.1

Brittle stars inhabit various marine environments, often at great depths. They are primarily deposit feeders, scavengers, or plankton feeders, extending their arms to capture food. While they can move, they usually remain attached to the seafloor or other marine life. The common European brittle star is one of two well-known species found in littoral zones.1