Ophioderma (echinoderm)

Ophioderma, a genus within the family Ophiodermatidae, includes brittle stars known for their adaptability. Studies of the species Ophioderma rubicundum reveal opportunistic behavior and a strong feeding response, which help it flourish in western Atlantic coral reefs.

These brittle stars reproduce in three ways: sexually, asexually, and through larval development. In sexual reproduction, they broadcast spawn—releasing eggs and sperm into the water for external fertilization. The resulting fertilized egg becomes a planktonic larva that drifts before settling on the seafloor to mature.

Asexually, they regenerate lost arms; in some species, a severed arm can grow into a new individual, boosting survival. For larval development, after fertilization, the larvae pass through several stages before becoming adults. In certain species, larvae remain attached to the parent until they can fend for themselves.

Feeding behavior includes opportunistically consuming the spawn of various corals. During coral spawning, the brittle star coils its arms around the coral’s gamete bundles.