Common Brittle-star

Name: Common Brittle-star

Scientific name: Ophiothrix fraglis

Category: Marine

Nature Stars: 30

What are nature stars?

About: Brittle-stars have a rounded disk-like body up to 2cm across with five very long, thin, spiny arms each up to 10cm long. They live on the sea floor, using their long legs to filter feed, catching plankton and smaller animals which are then fed back towards the mouth.

How to identify: There are several similar species of brittle-star found in British seas, which can be difficult to tell apart.

Where: Found all round our shores.

Fantastic fact: Brittle-stars are often eaten by their larger relatives, the Common Starfish

Photograph credit: Ian Boyd