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Phylum Echinodermata > Class Stellaroida > Subclass Ophiuroidea
Flat-armed brittle star
awaiting identification*
updated Apr 2020

Where seen? This agile but well camouflaged brittle star is sometimes commonly encountered on our Northern shores, among seagrasses as well as on sand and silty sand. Sometimes large numbers may be seen. It is more active at night and can move about rapidly among seagrasses and over sand.

Features:
Disk diameter less than 1cm, arms about 5cm long. Central disk flat and smooth, some are circular, others have a distinct petal-like shape with scalloped edges. Arms wide and flattened, with tapered pointed tips. Spines short and flattened, in a row along the sides of the arms. Long tapered tube feet emerge from the arms. Colours usually match the sand, often with a pattern of bars along the length of the arms. Usually brown, beige or greenish.

The brittle stars on this page are probably from different species. They are grouped together for convenience of display.

Changi, Jun 05

Upperside, some with scalloped edges.

Upperside of arm.

Underside.

Underside of arm with flat spines
and long tapered tube feet.

Sometimes seen in large numbers.
Chek Jawa, Aug 07


Chek Jawa, Sep 10

Underside.

Underside of arm with flat spines
and long tapered tube feet.

Flat-armed brittle star

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display

Flat-armed brittle stars on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Stuck on a sand collar.
Changi East (Lost Coast), Jul 24
Photo shared by Che Cheng Neo on facebook.

Berlayar Creek, Oct 15
Photo shared by Jonathan Tan on facebook.
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