Ophiolepis
A genus of brittle stars with circular shields on the disk.
Last updated
Ophiolepis is a genus of brittle stars and the type genus for the family Ophiolepididae. Its disk is covered with circular shields, where larger shields are ringed by smaller ones. Small notches sit at the base of each of the five arms. Arm spines line the outer edge of the side arm plates.
Species in this genus display a range of colors. The type species is Ophiolepis superba, though the original type species was Ophiura annulosa, now accepted as Ophiomastix annulosa. The genus currently includes 26 accepted species.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumEchinodermata
- ClassOphiuroidea
- OrderAmphilepidida
- FamilyOphiolepididae
- GenusOphiolepis
Named by Müller & Troschel, 1840
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Ophiolepis (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Family
- Ophiolepididae
- Type species
- Ophiolepis superba
- Original type species
- Ophiura annulosa (now accepted as Ophiomastix annulosa)
- Number of accepted species
- 26
Facts from the source article.
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: Ophiolepis (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced