Published: Nov. 25, 2020
animal with circular boady and five long thin arms branching out like a star

°¿±è³ó¾±´Ç»å¾±²¹Ìý±è±ð±ô´Ç°ù¾±²¹, commonly known asÌýBrittle Star areÌýomnivorous,Ìýscavengers andÌýdetrivores, (meaning they eat dead and decaying things off the sea floor).ÌýTheir mouth, which is located on the bottom side of their disc-shaped body is used to both ingest food and expel waste products.ÌýTheseÌýanimalsÌýeat by pushingÌýtheir stomachs out of their mouth, pressingÌýit against the foodÌýsource, then retractingÌýit withÌýitsÌýcontentsÌýbackÌýinto the body. In short, theÌýoneÌýopening acts asÌýmouth andÌýanus.Ìý

Brittle stars are closely related to sea stars but have thinner more flexible arms that can move in a whip like motion,ÌýmakingÌýthemÌýmore agileÌýand able to moveÌýquickly across the sea floor.ÌýBoth sea stars andÌýbrittle stars have the ability to detach theirÌýownÌýlimbs and regenerate them. ThisÌýprocessÌýis called autotomy, a self-induced loss of a body structure. ThisÌýnecessaryÌýadaptation is a defense used againstÌýaÌýperceived threat, such as predation.ÌýThese fascinating creaturesÌýdon’t have eyes soÌýinstead they useÌýfeelÌýas their main senseÌýandÌýhave specialized light sensingÌýmechanisms that help guide them throughÌýtheir habitat. For those interested in modern technologies,Ìýrobotic prototypesÌýareÌýbeing developed using their nervous systems as an inspiration.ÌýSoon,ÌýevenÌýmore peopleÌýwillÌýsee the brilliance of theÌýhumbleÌýbrittle star!Ìý


°¿±è³ó¾±´Ç»å¾±²¹Ìý±è±ð±ô´Ç°ù¾±²¹
Common name: brittle star
Collected 9 August 1962, byÌýDr.ÌýMilford Cundiff, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ EBIO
Washington State, San Juan Island, Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of WashingtonÌý
UCM #1127


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