Ophiocoma erinaceus is an echinoderm, more specifically a brittle star of the Ophiocomidae family.[1]
Ophiocoma erinaceus is black with red tube feet.[1][2] On the arm segments, there are three arm spines on one segment while the other has four. The next segment occurs in reverse order.[3] In Hawaii, it is the largest brittle star, with sizes of the arms going up to 5 ½ inches, and the disk can be about 1 inch in diameter.[1]
Ophiocoma erinaceus is distributed within the Indo-Pacific oceans and can be found under rocks and stones.[1]
The saponin and antioxidants Ophiocoma erinaceus produces is the subject of interest to researchers as it has been studied for medical research.[4][5] It has been observed that the saponin extracted from Ophiocoma erinaceus can decrease and inhibit the growth of HeLa human cervix cancer cells.[5]
Ophiocoma erinaceus is an echinoderm, more specifically a brittle star of the Ophiocomidae family.
