Brittle stars

Ophiuroidea

Brittle stars are closely related to starfishes but smaller and more mobile.

They have a circular central plate with five narrow arms extending from the plate. They can walk on these arms and are therefore more mobile compared to other echinoderms.

They are not predators like the closely related starfishes but mostly eat detritus.

A few species, the basket stars (Gorgonocephalidae), have branched arms that form a tangle, which they use for filter feeding.  

HÞV