Gorgonocephalus
Coldwater basket stars with branching arms and a rubbery appearance.
Gorgonocephalus, also called Gorgon's heads or Gorgon's head basket stars, is a group of marine basket stars belonging to the class Ophiuroidea. These animals live in cold waters, such as those of the Arctic, Antarctic, and deep ocean. Their name comes from the Greek words *gorgós* ("dreaded") and *-cephalus* ("head"), referencing the resemblance between these echinoderms and the serpent-haired head of the Gorgon from Greek myth.
The body of a Gorgonocephalus consists of a central disc with five arms that repeatedly split into smaller and smaller branches through dichotomous branching. Like other ophiuroids, they have an internal skeleton made of calcified ossicles, but a fleshy skin layer covers it, giving them a rubbery look. To feed, a basket star perches on an elevated spot, such as a sponge, and spreads its arms in a basket shape. The branches and branchlets twist and coil, trapping small crustaceans like the northern krill (*Meganyctiphanes norvegica*) that come within reach. Tiny hooks and spines on the arms hold the prey, and along with tube feet, they move the food to the mouth located on the underside of the central disc.
The World Register of Marine Species lists these species in the genus: *Gorgonocephalus arcticus*, *Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae* (Medusa's head), *Gorgonocephalus chilensis*, *Gorgonocephalus diomedeae*, *Gorgonocephalus dolichodactylus*, *Gorgonocephalus eucnemis*, *Gorgonocephalus lamarckii*, *Gorgonocephalus pustulatum*, *Gorgonocephalus sundanus*, and *Gorgonocephalus tuberosus*.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Gorgonocephalus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Members of this genus have a central disc with five arms which repeatedly bifurcate, dichotomously branching into smaller and smaller subdivisions. They have an endoskeleton of calcified ossicles as do other ophiuroids, but in their case, it is covered by a fleshy layer of skin, giving them a rubbery appearance. To feed, a basket star perches in an elevated position such as on a sponge, and extends its arms in a basket-like fashion. The branches and branchlets twist and coil and may ensnare small crustaceans that come within reach such as the northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica). The arms are covered in tiny hooks and spines which hold the prey. Along with the tube feet, these convey it to the mouth, which is on the underside of the central disc.
Reader's Guide
Gorgonocephalus is notable for its distinctive feeding strategy and morphology. The genus name evokes the Gorgon's head from Greek myth, referencing the coiled, serpent-like appearance of its branching arms. These basket stars inhabit coldwater environments, including polar regions and deep-sea habitats, and are adapted to capture small crustaceans like northern krill. Their arms, covered in tiny hooks and spines, work with tube feet to transport prey to the mouth on the underside of the central disc. The fleshy skin covering their calcified ossicles gives them a rubbery texture, distinguishing them from other ophiuroids. The World Register of Marine Species lists ten species within the genus, including Gorgonocephalus arcticus, Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae (Medusa's head), and Gorgonocephalus eucnemis, among others. Their ecological role as predators of small crustaceans in cold, often deep waters highlights their adaptation to extreme environments.
Did You Know?
- The genus name Gorgonocephalus comes from Greek words meaning 'dreaded head', referencing the Gorgon's head from Greek myth.
- Members of this genus are found in coldwater environments including the Arctic, the Antarctic, and deep-sea habitats.
- They feed by perching on an elevated position like a sponge and extending their arms in a basket-like fashion to ensnare small crustaceans such as northern krill.
More in Sea Cucumbers and Brittle Stars 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced