Brittle stars (Ophiuroidea): photo index

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Phylum Echinodermata > Class Stellaroida > Subclass Ophiuroidea

Photo index of brittle stars on Singapore shores

Rirst size given is for diameter of central disk, second size for length of arms

Upside down brittle star Ophiothrix sp.	Bottle-brush brittle star awaiting identification	Flat armed brittle star awaiting identification	Twin-barred brittle star awaiting identification	Basket star Family Euryalidae
1cm; 5cm. Disk thick, petal-shaped. Arms withlong cylindrical spines held like a bottle brush. Often seen upside down. Among seagrasses and seaweeds. Sometimes seen on our Northern shores, especially at night.	less than 1cm; 2-5cm. Disk thick and star-shaped. Arms with long cylindrical spines all around so it resembles a bottle-brush. Muddy silty areas among seagrasses. Commonly seen on our Northern shores, especially at night.	less than 1cm; 5cm. Disk flat, circular. Arms wide, flat with flat spines along the sides. Barred pattern along the length of the arms. Muddy silty areas near seagrasses. Commonly seen on our Northern shores especially at night.	0.5-1cm; 3-5cm. Disk flat, circular. Arms cylindrical, smooth. Bold olive green bands on pale orange arms. Central disk sometimes with red dot. Under rocks near reefs. Commonly seen on our Southern shores.	10cm in diameter with arms. Each arm branched into 'tendrils'. On coral rubble near living reefs. Rarely seen.
Violet brittle star Macrophiothrix nereidina	Blue lined brittle star Macrophiothrix lineocaerulea	Very long-armed brittle star Macrophiothrix longipedia
1cm; 10-15cm. Disk thick, pentagonal, arms flat broad, transparent long spines. Pink with purple patterns. Sometime seen on reefy Southern shores.	1cm; 10-20cm.Disk thick, pentagonal. Arms long with long cylindrical spines held like a bottle brush. Arms with pair of dark lines that extend onto central disk. In rubbly areas. Sometimes seen on our Northern shore especially at night.	less than 1cm; arms 20-30cm about 2cm wide with spines, which are only along the sides of the arms. Arms may be banded. Usually in coral rubble with only their long arms extended. Commonly seen at night.
Tiny in-a-sponge brittle star Ophiactis savignyi	Tiny colourful brittle star Ophiothela danae	Tiny orange brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis	Feather star brittle star Ophiomaza cacaotica	Ghost brittle star awaiting identification
Whole animal 1-2cm. Common in Chocolate sponges, sometimes in large numbers.	Whole animal 1cm. Sometimes seen on soft corals, sea fans.	Whole animal 1-2cm. Sometimes seen on flowery soft corals, leathery sea fans, leathery soft corals.	Whole animal 1-2cm. Sometimes seen on feather stars.	1cm: 10-12cm. White with speckles of colours that match its host. Found in Ball flowery soft corals.