Ophiurina Müller & Troschel 1840

Amphioidea urtica found intertidally in mud at Padilla Bay, June 2012 by Sarah Bewley and Melissa Moxey. Central disk is 9 mm diameter and total span is about 15 cm. Note that several arms are regenerating and others have recently broken but have not yet started regeneration. (Photo by: Dave Cowles, June 2012)

Closeup of the central disk (aboral side) of the individual above. The aboral side of the disk is covered with small, conical spines which are larger toward the margins. It has conspicuous lobes between the arms, and may appear inflated.

The "dorsal" (aboral) plates on the rays are separated by small secondary plates, as can be seen here. This is a view of the aboral side of a ray. The five spines projecting from the lateral plates can be seen to the sides. The yellow tube feet can be seen projecting from the other, oral side of the ray

The underside of the mouth and the rays are white..

Ophiopholis aculeata from a subtidal rock, Deception Pass, WA (Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2006)

Ophiopteris papillosa from Royal Palm State Beach, Long Beach, CA (Photo by: Dave Cowles, April 1997)

A closeup of the aboral side of the central disk. Note that the radial shields (paired large central disk plates at the base of each arm) are longer than wide, and that their proximal ends are separated by a wedge-shaped group of scales while their distal ends are separated by an extension of an arm plate.

The arms of this species extend from slots in the central disk, as seen here. The plates at the edge of the slot are lined an "arm comb" of bristles which touch the edges of the arm. In this species the bristles of the arm comb are unusually flat and squared off, and the edge of each bristle is in contact with the edge of the next bristle so it is hard to see that the arm comb is distinct from the rest of the plate. In this photo the outline of several of the bristles of the comb can be seen along the edge of the upper plate. Note also that the aboral arm plates are wedge-shaped with the widest portion of each plate distal to the central disk.

This view of the underside of the central disk shows the white coloration on the underside. Also note that the oral shields (large plates seen between the bases of the arms) are widest near the middle rather than near the outer edges.

Ophiura luetkenii found subtidally near Northwest Island by Haruko Ito. Ray length 3 cm. (Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2012)

Large sand brittle star; Slangster.

Amphiura filiformis; Draadarmige slangster.

Common brittle star; brokkelster.

Ophiacantha cosmica, oral viewOphiacantha cosmica, collected off Sechura Bay (05 42 00S, 083 00 00W), Peru, South Pacific Ocean, by the R. V. Albatross (eastern Pacific expedition) from a depth of 4065 m.

Ophiacantha cosmica, aboral viewOphiacantha cosmica, collected off Sechura Bay (05 42 00S, 083 00 00W), Peru, South Pacific Ocean, by the R. V. Albatross (eastern Pacific expedition) from a depth of 4065 m.

Ophioderma appressa, harlequin colouration, aboral view of discOphioderma appressa, harlequin colouration, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, Caribbean.

Ophioderma appressa, harlequin colouration, oral viewOphioderma appressa, harlequin colouration, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, Caribbean.

Ophioderma appressa, harlequin colouration, aboral viewOphioderma appressa, harlequin colouration, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, Caribbean.

Ophioderma appressa, oral view of discOphioderma appressa, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, Caribbean.

Ophioderma appressa, aboral view of discOphioderma appressa, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, Caribbean.

Ophioderma appressa, oral viewOphioderma appressa, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, Caribbean.

Ophioderma appressa, aboral viewOphioderma appressa, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, Caribbean.

Opinion 1152 (1)

Bathypectinura heros, oral viewBathypectinura heros (USNM E28729), collected off Great Bahama Bank (Centroid Latitude: 22.90, Centroid Longitude: -75.27), Bahamas, North Atlantic Ocean, by the R.V. Columbus Iselin, from a depth of 2443 m.