Ophiothrix fragilis (Brittle Star)
Brittle stars are a type of Echinodermata related to starfish. There are about 1500 living species of brittle stars today, and most of them live in marine habitats. Brittle stars have a five pointed star shape. They have pentaradial symmetry, which is a 5-sided radial symmetry.
Brittle stars do not have a circulatory system, instead they have a water vascular system. A water vascular system of canals that connect the tubed feet of the organism. The brittle star uses its tube feet to obtain food, to move, and exchange nutrients and oxygen. The tubed feet are connected together by a central disk which contain all of the organism's organs including its digestive and reproductive organs. |