Species Hierarchy
Kingdom ANIMAL (ANIMALIA)
Phylum STARFISH & ALLIES (ECHINODERM)
Class BRITTLE STARS (OPHIUROIDEA)
Common name: BRITTLE STAR
Scentific name: OPHIODERMA LONGICAUDUM

IN HABITAT
Origin: CARIBBEAN

Species Info:

This lifeform is found in the Caribbean Ocean. The orange color will help identify this lifeform.

Brittle Star (Ophioderma longicaudum) is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It may measure up to fifteen inches across. This animal is quite active and is even occasionally taken with hook and line.

Brittle Stars (Class Ophiuroidea) resemble the Starfish, but can be easily distinguished from them in that they have five very long thin legs.

Starfish group (Phylum Echinoderma) contains some diverse marine creatures. Echinoderms generally have radial symmetry. Some well-known examples of Echinoderms are starfish and sea urchins. There are about 6,000 extant species of Echinoderms (and many additional fossil species). The following classes are contained in this phylum:

   Echinodea:       Sea Urchins (900 species)
   Asteroidea:      Starfish (1,600 species)
   Holothurioidea:  Sea Cucumbers (900 species)
   Ophiuroidea:     Brittle Stars (2,000 species)
   Crinoidea:       Feather Stars and Sea Lilies (600 species)

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

 

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IN HABITAT

 


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