Breviturma pica

Breviturma pica, the yellow-spotted brittle star, is a species of brittle star in the family Ophiocomidae.^[2] The species epithet, pica, translates to "magpie" for its resemblance to the bird with black and white feathers.^[3]

Breviturma pica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Ophiuroidea
Order:	Ophiacanthida
Family:	Ophiocomidae
Genus:	Breviturma
Species:	B. pica
Binomial name
Breviturma pica (Müller & Troschel, 1842)[1]
Synonyms[1]
List Ophiocoma lineolata Müller & Troschel, 1842 Ophiocoma pica Müller & Troschel, 1842 Ophiocoma sannio Lyman, 1861

Description

size reference

Breviturma pica has looping white and gold lines on its body. Its five arms are 3 in (76 mm) long with yellow plates and numerous spines. Its body is about 1 in (25 mm) in diameter.^[3] Its total size is 8 in (200 mm) on average.^[4]

Distribution

Breviturma pica can be found in the Indo-Pacific, including Hawaii, Micronesia, Taiwan, Northern Australia, South Africa, and Southern Israel.^[5]

Habitat

Breviturma pica often lives in between the branches of cauliflower coral and sometimes under stones.^[3] It lives in depths of 7–200 m (20–660 ft).^[5]