Gorgonocephalus Leach 1815

Asterophyton linckii, Muller and Troschel. Young specimen.

Astrophyton linckii, Muller et Troschel Jeune.

This species is common subtidally along Sares Head A closer view of the animal's disk. Picture by Dave Cowles, August 2004

This individual was photographed July 2001 by Dave Cowles. Captured off Sares Head.

This individual was photographed in the display tank at Friday Harbor Labs. Many of the arm tips are missing, as is common in individuals in captivity.

This basket star is much larger than most local brittle star species, as can be seen in this individual which covers the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2012 Basket stars frequently wave their arms around like a writhing bush. To see a video of this action in the basket star above, click here or here.

This individual is 22 cm across and 5 cm across the central disk.

(Gorgonocephalus eucnemis found subtidally at Sares Head. Diameter approximately 30 cm) (Photo by: Dave Cowles August 2004)

Description: These basket stars were observed at the top of a ridge on the seabed using their branched arms for filter feeding in the strong currents. Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 16 August 2007

Description: These basket stars were observed at the top of a ridge on the seabed using their branched arms for filter feeding in the strong currents. Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 16 October 2007

Description: These basket stars were observed at the top of a ridge on the seabed using their branched arms for filter feeding in the strong currents. Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 16 October 2007

Description: Many basket stars on the sea bed Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 28 June 2008

Item Type: Video Title: Gorgonshead basket star Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Site: Atlantic -- North Sea -- West of Shetland -- SchiehallionNorth Sea -- West of Shetland -- Schiehallion Site Description: Equipment Depth (m): 450 Latitude: 60 deg 20' 03" N Longitude: 4 deg 05' 56" W Countries: UK -- West of Shetland Habitat: Temperate Man Made Rig: Subsea Viking Project Partners: Subsea 7 ROV: Hercules 5 Deposited By: Rob Curry Deposited On: 13 March 2007

Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonshead basket star Copyright: Serpent Project Species: Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae Behaviour: Resting, moving, feeding on equipment Site: Atlantic -- North Sea -- West of Shetland -- SchiehallionNorth Sea -- West of Shetland -- Schiehallion Site Description: Equipment Depth (m): 450 Latitude: 60 deg 20' 03" N Longitude: 4 deg 05' 56" W Countries: UK -- West of Shetland Habitat: Temperate Man Made Rig: Regalia Project Partners: Transocean, Subsea 7, BP ROV: Centurion 30 Deposited By: Rob Curry Deposited On: 13 March 2007

Description: These basket stars were observed at the top of a ridge on the seabed using their branched arms for filter feeding in the strong currents. Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus sp. Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus sp. Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 16 October 2007

Description: These basket stars were observed at the top of a ridge on the seabed using their branched arms for filter feeding in the strong currents. Item Type: Image Title: Gorgonocephalus sp. Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Gorgonocephalus sp. Behaviour: Feeding Site: Atlantic -- Norwegian -- Midnattsol Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 928 Latitude: 64 deg 00' 59" N Longitude: 5 deg 16' 44" E Countries: Norway -- Norwegian Sector Habitat: Benthic Rig: Transocean Leader Project Partners: Statoil, Oceaneering, Transocean ROV: Magnum 034 (work class) Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 16 December 2009