Banded brittle star

Hemipholis elongata

Family Ophiactidae - brittle stars

Distinguishing
Characteristics
Disk with 5 lobes; 5 narrow arms distinctly set off from disk in between lobes; arm segments with 3 spines on each side; 5 pair of plates (radial shields) on dorsal disk, almost heart-shaped; color gray to brown with dark banding on arms, disk with mottling color; dorsal side of disk has no scales; tube feet on the ventral surface of arms are red.
Similar Species
Red tube feet help distinguish this brittle star. Another brittle star has red tube feet but has 6 arms instead of 5.
Habitat
Gulf, sandy bottoms
Maximum Size
10 cm (4 in) arm span
Other Common Names
Previous Scientific Names
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