This brittlestar is less common then its close relative Ophiura ophiura. The disc is covered with coarse scales. The first arm scales are heart shaped and on the disc you can observe two white marks at the base of each arm. The arm have very short conspicuous spines. The mouth is placed centaly on the bottom side, where you will also find the madreporeplate, which is connected to the water canal system that runs through the entire body and arms. These animals feed on small particles in the sediment. Due to there feeding habits, they are very sensitive for pollution. The occurrence of this brittlestar tells you that the water and sediment quality is good.
Size
The central disc has a diameter of 12 mm, the length of the arms is four times the disc diameter.
Colour
Living specimens are reddish brow, but when dead they turn white. At the base of each arm there is a pair of white marks.
Habitat
This small brittle star lives on muddy sand and gravel, but also underneath rocks and stones. They prefer the shallow waters, and hide from sunlight.
Distribution
In Zeeland almost exclusively in the Oosterschelde and in the North sea. The salinity in the Grevelingen is probably too low for these animals, but because of the recent permanent drainage this could change in the near future.
