Common brittle star
A species of Ophiurid brittle stars Scientific name : Ophiothrix fragilis Genus : Ophiurid brittle stars
Common brittle star, A species of Ophiurid brittle stars
Botanical name: Ophiothrix fragilis
Genus: Ophiurid brittle stars
Content
Description
Photo By Peter Southwood , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The common brittle star is extremely variable in colouration, ranging from violet, purple or red to yellowish or pale grey, often spotted with red. The arms are usually white or grey with pink bands. The central disc is about one centimetre in diameter with the five arms being about five times as long. The disc is clothed in five rays of spines radiating from a spiny centre. Between these are five pairs of triangular plates, each pair forming a heart shaped pattern. The slender tapering arms are quite distinct from the disc and are covered with overlapping scales. The dorsal arm plates are naked and have a longitudinal keel. Each arm segment bears seven glassy, toothed spines. The arms are extremely fragile and easily shed, coming away either whole or in pieces.
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Scientific Classification
Phylum
Echinoderms Order
Amphilepidida Family
Ophiotrichidae Genus
Ophiurid brittle stars Species
Common brittle star 
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