Ophiotrichidae
Brittle stars with delicate, translucent, thorny spines.
Ophiotrichidae is a family of brittle stars belonging to the suborder Gnathophiurina. Their arms are covered in fine, translucent, thorny spines and can bend in any direction. The jaws have well-developed clusters of tooth papillae only at the tip, not along the sides, and lack mouth papillae. A second pair of tube feet is present inside the mouth edge. These brittle stars have large radial shields, and the upper surface of the central disc is covered with spines and thorny towers.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Ophiotrichidae
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
All species of Ophiotrichidae have arms with delicate, translucent, thorny spines, and their arms are flexible in all directions. Their jaws contain clusters of well-developed tooth papillae on the apex but not on the sides, and there are no mouth papillae. Inside the mouth edge there is a second pair of tube feet. They show large radial shields, and the dorsal surface of the disc is covered with spines and thorny towers. The family contains 17 genera, including Asteria (nomen dubium), Gymnolophus Brock, 1888, Lissophiothrix H.L. Clark, 1938, Macrophiothrix H.L. Clark, 1938, Ophioaethiops Brock, 1888, Ophiocampsis Duncan, 1887, Ophiocnemis Müller & Troschel, 1842, Ophiogymna Ljungman, 1866, Ophiolophus Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1887, Ophiomaza Lyman, 1871, Ophiophthirius Döderlein, 1898, Ophiopsammium Lyman, 1874, Ophiopteron Ludwig, 1888, Ophiothela Verrill, 1867, Ophiothrichoides Delage & Hérouard, 1903, Ophiothrix Müller & Troschel, 1840, and Ophiotrichoides Ludwig, 1882.
Reader's Guide
Ophiotrichidae are a family of brittle stars within the suborder Gnathophiurina, distinguished by their delicate, translucent, thorny spines and arms flexible in all directions. Their jaws have well-developed tooth papillae only on the apex, no mouth papillae, and a second pair of tube feet inside the mouth edge. Large radial shields and a disc covered with spines and thorny towers further characterize them. The family includes 17 genera, with the earliest named being Ophiothrix (1840) and the latest Ophiothrichoides (1903). One genus, Asteria, is listed as nomen dubium, indicating uncertainty. The family's significance lies in its morphological distinctiveness within the brittle star suborder, as documented in references such as the European register of marine species and the World Ophiuroidea database. Its legacy is tied to taxonomic studies by authors like H.L. Clark, Brock, and Lyman, who described many of its genera.
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