green brittle star

echinoderm

Also known as: Ophioderma brevispina

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

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The green brittle star (Ophioderma brevispina) is a marine invertebrate belonging to the phylum Echinodermata and the subclass Ophiuroidea. Brittle stars, including the green brittle star, are characterized by a small, disk-shaped body with long, thin arms that are distinct from the body and readily break off but regenerate. They typically hide during the day and emerge at night to feed, often acting as deposit feeders, scavengers, or plankton feeders. The green brittle star is found along the coast from Massachusetts to Brazil.12

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brittle star
…best-known littoral species are the green brittle star (Ophioderma brevispina), found from Massachusetts to Brazil, and the common European brittle star (Ophiothrix fragilis). Brittle stars typically hide under rocks or in crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed.
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…best-known littoral species are the green brittle star (Ophioderma brevispina), found from Massachusetts to Brazil, and the common European brittle star (Ophiothrix fragilis). Brittle stars typically hide under rocks or in crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed.
Read More