Dr. Paddy Ryan, USA
Info
Ophiopsammus maculata (Verrill, 1869)
This New Zealand brittle star is deep orange to brick red in colour. It has five arms, which break easily,but regenerate well.This species is a very large Brittle star, the disc is about 5-8 cm across, the arms are 18 cm in lenght.
Ophiopsammus maculata can be found offshore on soft, sandy to muddy bottom.
Ophiopsammus maculata is a predator and but is also a scavanger.
This Brittle star is endemic in New Zealand.
Results of a comparative study suggest that large individuals of Ophiopsammus maculata may exceed 30 years of age.
Synonym:
Pectinura maculata
Biota > Animalia (Kingdom) > Echinodermata (Phylum) > Asterozoa (Subphylum) > Ophiuroidea (Class) > Ophiurida (Order) > Ophiurina (Suborder) > Ophiodermatina (Infraorder) > Ophiodermatidae (Family) > Ophiopsammus (Genus) > Ophiopsammus maculata (Species)
This New Zealand brittle star is deep orange to brick red in colour. It has five arms, which break easily,but regenerate well.This species is a very large Brittle star, the disc is about 5-8 cm across, the arms are 18 cm in lenght.
Ophiopsammus maculata can be found offshore on soft, sandy to muddy bottom.
Ophiopsammus maculata is a predator and but is also a scavanger.
This Brittle star is endemic in New Zealand.
Results of a comparative study suggest that large individuals of Ophiopsammus maculata may exceed 30 years of age.
Synonym:
Pectinura maculata
Biota > Animalia (Kingdom) > Echinodermata (Phylum) > Asterozoa (Subphylum) > Ophiuroidea (Class) > Ophiurida (Order) > Ophiurina (Suborder) > Ophiodermatina (Infraorder) > Ophiodermatidae (Family) > Ophiopsammus (Genus) > Ophiopsammus maculata (Species)
