Paul Norwood, USA
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Ophiura luetkenii is a carnivorous cold-water brittle star found only in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, from the Aleutian Islands through the Gulf of Alaska to California.
This species of brittle star can often be found in the sea in large groups, sometimes of varying sizes.
The color of Ophiura luetkenii is variable, usually brown or gray spotted on the upper body, often with brown or gray bands on the arms.
The underside of the body, where the brittle star's mouth is located, is white, and the arm spines are brown or gray at the base with white tips.
Ophiura luetkenii is a good scavenger, but it also feeds on various zooplankton, provided it can wrap its arms around its potential prey and bring it to its mouth.
These brittle stars play an important role in the food chain as they are an indispensable food source for various other marine animals such as flatfish (sole), the sand starfish Luidia foliolata, and the copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus).
Similar species: Ophiura sarsii
Ophiura sarsii is very similar, but has separate arm comb bristles with pointed ends and is usually gray without stripes on the arms.
Synonym: Ophioglypha luetkenii Lyman, 1860 · unaccepted
This species of brittle star can often be found in the sea in large groups, sometimes of varying sizes.
The color of Ophiura luetkenii is variable, usually brown or gray spotted on the upper body, often with brown or gray bands on the arms.
The underside of the body, where the brittle star's mouth is located, is white, and the arm spines are brown or gray at the base with white tips.
Ophiura luetkenii is a good scavenger, but it also feeds on various zooplankton, provided it can wrap its arms around its potential prey and bring it to its mouth.
These brittle stars play an important role in the food chain as they are an indispensable food source for various other marine animals such as flatfish (sole), the sand starfish Luidia foliolata, and the copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus).
Similar species: Ophiura sarsii
Ophiura sarsii is very similar, but has separate arm comb bristles with pointed ends and is usually gray without stripes on the arms.
Synonym: Ophioglypha luetkenii Lyman, 1860 · unaccepted
