Brooding Smooth Brittle Star

Ophiomyxa vivipara

Brooding Smooth Brittle Star

This smooth, soft skinned brittle star broods its young inside its body rather than casting them adrift, and it lives on rock, sand, shell and mud between about fifteen and four hundred metres. It feeds on the organic matter it gathers from the seabed and is harmless to divers.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Echinodermata › Ophiuroidea › Ophiacanthida › Ophiomyxidae › Ophiomyxa

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 212433.

FAQ

How deep does the Brooding Smooth Brittle Star live?
The Brooding Smooth Brittle Star (Ophiomyxa vivipara) is typically found at 15–399 m.
Is the Brooding Smooth Brittle Star dangerous to divers?
The Brooding Smooth Brittle Star is harmless to divers.