Dec 10, 2025
Sea star pile-up. ⭐️
These brittle stars are mud-loving animals, often found crawling across the muddy plains of the seafloor. This group of sea stars, known as Ophiuroidea, boasts a diverse number of species—more than 2,000 different species! They feast on a variety of prey, including food particles suspended in the water, organic particles that settle on the seafloor, or small animals like crustaceans, and live in a wide range of water depths—from the shoreline down to 3,000 meters (9,840 feet). The brittle star's common name is inspired by their habit of breaking off arms in defense against predation. They are closely related to starfish, but are distinguished by their rounded central disk and five slender arms.
