Black Brittle Star
The black brittle star (Ophiocomina nigra) is a dark brittle star of the northeastern Atlantic that forms dense beds on gravelly seabeds. It feeds with its spiny arms.
The black brittle star (Ophiocomina nigra) is a dark brittle star of the northeastern Atlantic that forms dense beds on gravelly seabeds. It feeds with its spiny arms.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Black Brittle Star in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Deuterostomia lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
Dense Beds
In places with strong currents, black brittle stars gather in thick beds, with arms raised to catch particles. The animals are able to switch between suspension feeding and deposit feeding.
Regrowing Arms
Like other brittle stars they can shed arms to escape predators and regrow them. The central disc holds the organs, since there are none in the arms. See Common Brittle Star.
Part of the Seabed Community
Brittle stars are eaten by fish and crabs and play an important role in cycling nutrients on the seafloor.
Black Brittle Star at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ophiocomina nigra |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Echinodermata |
| Class | Ophiuroidea |
| Field Guide group | Deuterostomia: Echinodermata (Sea Stars & Allies) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Dark round disc with five long spiny arms that wriggle like snakes; huge beds of millions carpet parts of the European seafloor. |
| Class | Ophiuroidea |
| Habitat | Gravel seabeds with currents |