Spiny ophiocoma
Ophiocoma echinata
(Lamarck, 1816)

Description:
Long slender arms with a distinct central disc. The arms are covered with numerous spines. The color is dark, often with light or cream colored markings. The arms never show any red or reddish color markings.
Size: up to 25 cm from arm tip to arm tip.

Habitat:
The species lives under rocks, old coral heads and in recesses. It can be found on reefs and reef flats. Sometimes in grassy areas.
Depth: ranges from 3 m down to 25 m.

Distribution:
Common all over the Caribbean.

Remarks:
The genera to which the brittle stars belong have many species, of which the most common are mentioned in this program. To determine to which species exactly belongs your specimen, an expert is needed.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Ophiuroidea
Genus Ophiocoma
Species Ophiocoma echinata

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Ophiocoma echinata (Lamarck, 1816)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Spiny ophiocoma [English]
Spiny brittle star [English]
Blunt-spined brittle star [English]

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Parslow, R.E. & A.M. Clark, 1963. Ophiuroidea of the Lesser Antilles. Studies on the fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean islands, 15.

Voss, G.L., 1976. Seashore life of Florida and the Carribbean. Banyan Books, Inc. Miami, Florida.

You can continue searching for Ophiocoma echinata on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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