Distinguishing Characteristics |
Disk round; 5 short narrow arms distinctly set off from disk; color on aboral side (top dorsal side) brownish, sometimes with lighter spot in center of disk; arms banded; oral side (underside where mouth is) lighter, beige; aboral (upper side) of disk covered with scales in a rosette pattern, 2 large scales on each side of arms, smaller scales in center of disk, 1 column of scales between each pair of arms, each larger scale is completely surrounded by a row of tiny scales; on oral side of disk, jaws (5 triangular areas making up mouth frame) surrounded on sides by small plates (called oral papillae), only one plate on tip of each jaw; 2 long slits (genital slits) between each arm; 4-6 arm spines on each side of arms; aboral arm plates (see photos) hexagonal shaped, triangular shaped accessory arm plates present on each side of arm plates, sometimes divided into 2-3 segments. |
Similar Species |
These brittle stars are easy to distinguish from other brittle stars by the plate formation (rosette pattern) on its disk. |
Habitat |
Gulf and bay, shell, sand or muddy sand bottoms |
Maximum Size |
2.5 cm (1 in) disk width, 19 cm (7 1/2 in) arm span |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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