Brown brittle star
Ophioderma longicaudum
Special features
One of the fastest starfish in the Mediterranean: curving its long arms in an S-shape, it can push itself forcefully forward and quickly jets through the underwater world.
Appearance
Its disc grows up to 3cm in size but appears massive compared to its five long (12cm), thin arms.
Its surface appears smooth and leathery, but this is deceptive because it is densely covered with short spines — there is a reason why it belongs to the echinoderms.
Natural enemies
Other starfish
Dangerous/venomous
The Smooth Snake Star is neither dangerous nor venomous.
Sketch
1. 12 cm long arms
2. Mouth disc
Pro tips
The Brown brittle star lives everywhere in the Mediterranean, but you rarely see it.
It loves shade and darkness and therefore hides permanently in crevices or even buries himself in the sand.
At night, he also wreaks havoc outside his beloved hiding places, but he flees as soon as you light him up with a lamp or when you simply take away the stone under which he is hiding.
Text: Carolina Leiter
Pic: Felician Hosp
Illustration: Dive Dict
