Ophiocoma scolopendrina
Intertidal brittle star with unique surface-film feeding behavior.
Last updated
Ophiocoma scolopendrina is a species of brittle star in the family Ophiocomidae, restricted to life in the intertidal zone of the Indo-Pacific. It is notable for its unique surface-film feeding behavior, using its arms to sweep the sea surface and trap food, a trait not seen in other Ophiocoma species.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumEchinodermata
- ClassOphiuroidea
- OrderOphiacanthida
- FamilyOphiocomidae
- GenusOphiocoma
- SpeciesOphiocoma scolopendrina
Named by (Lamarck, 1816)
Close relatives
Other species of Ophiocoma with a Codexery entry.
- Ophiocoma echinata Ophiocoma echinata
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Ophiocoma scolopendrina (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 212378 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.13 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Ophiocoma scolopendrina
Where the ophiocoma scolopendrina has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (1,954 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 53 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Quick Facts
- Species
- scolopendrina
Facts from the source article.
Background
Ophiocoma scolopendrina belongs to the phylum of echinoderms, which includes sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea stars. Its dorsal disc and arm plates vary from variegated black to pale brown and are irregularly banded.
The species can be found in the Red Sea, the tropical Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan, Eastern Africa, Southeastern Polynesia, the Marshall Islands, and Madagascar. They live in crevices and under boulders of intertidal reef platforms in the upper and middle eulittoral, and have also been seen underneath coral rubble. They hide amongst concealing vegetation during surface-film feeding and live primarily in shallow water strictly in the intertidal.
More in Brittle Stars
Elsewhere in Sea Cucumbers and Brittle Stars
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Ophiocoma scolopendrina (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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