Species Profile
Ophiothrix
Brittle star
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumEchinodermata
ClassOphiuroidea
OrderUnknown
FamilyUnknown
Introduction
Ophiothrix lives under rocks and corals.
It is sensitive and active.
Important scavenger.
Size & Structure
01
Small central disc
02
Five long spiny arms
03
Flexible body
04
Brown or reddish colour
Ophiothrix — 3D Model
No 3D model available
General Features
- Coelom
- True coelom, reduced
- Body plan
- Tube within a tube body plan, Deuterostomous
- Germ layer
- Triploblastic
- Metamerism
- Absent
- Body symmetry
- Radial (pentaradial adult, bilateral larva)
- Fertilization
- External
- Digestion type
- Incomplete
- Nervous system
- Nerve ring with radial nerves
- Excretory organ
- Absent
- Body temperature
- Poikilothermic, stenohaline
- Circulatory type
- Type-I (absent)
- Development type
- Indirect
- Respiratory type
- Bursae
- Mode of excretion
- Ammonotelism
- Circulation system
- Water vascular (ambulacral) system
- Skeleton structure
- Endoskeleton (ossicles)
- Level of Organisation
- Organ-system level
- Regulation of Osmosis
- Osmoconformer
Ecology
Scavenger
Organic matter recycling
Nutrient cycling
Economic Importance
Reef health indicator
Zoology teaching
Evolutionary studies