The Brittle Starfish
Fuerteventura Fauna: A closer look at Ophiuroidea or The Brittle Starfish found in Fuerteventura.
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The Brittle Starfish or “Ophiuroidea”
An Article by Hannan Mackay with The Voice Fuerteventura
As it is the festive season, we thought we would take a closer look at one special star that lives in the waters that surround our island.
The Ophiuroids that you find here in the waters that surround Fuerteventura, are closely related to Sea Stars or Starfish but have thinner and more agile arms. Generally the species has five whip-like slender arms that can reach up to 60cms in length. These long arms allow the Brittle starfish to move much faster than the average starfish, as they work on a similar basis to a ball and socket joint (like shoulders) which gives them amazing flexibility.
They have a graceful serpent-like quality which allows them to move very quickly and squeeze into tight spaces. They also have the ability to discard an arm when being attacked by a predator, hence the name. This skill is known as autotomy or self-mutilation. The wound where the original arm was heals, then another grows in its place.
MOVEMENT
They move by wriggling their arms, using one arm as a leader which points the way forward. The rest of the arms then co-ordinate the rest of the stars movement, similar to a “rowing motion” to propel it forward. To turn in another direction, it simply picks up a new lead arm which then takes over and leads the way.
BODY
The main body of the star contains all the internal organs of digestion and reproduction. The underside of the body contains the mouth which has five-toothed jaws. The mouth has a double purpose as it both ingests food and expels waste. The Brittle starfish has no brain but a very large stomach and the feet on the underside are used for feeding and to help them sense their environment.
FOOD
These creatures mainly hide in crevices, holes or in rocks and reefs and usually take shelter with sea sponges or sea urchins. They can even bury themselves to avoid detection and are mainly nocturnal and feed at night. They are Omnivores and feed of dead organic material, eating both algae and meaty marine foods which is often found while scavenging. These are a truly beautiful and very graceful creature that lives here in our waters. However, they are often difficult to spot or photograph as they are also very shy.
