Ophiopsila annulosa

Ophiopsila annulosa is a species of brittle stars belonging to the family Ophiocomidae.^[2]

Ophiopsila annulosa
Entrance to Killary Harbour, Connemara, Galway, Ireland, 20m.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Stelleroidea
Subclass:	Ophiuroidea
Order:	Ophiurida
Suborder:	Gnathophiurina
Family:	Ophiocomidae
Genus:	Ophiopsila
Species:	O. annulosa
Binomial name
Ophiopsila annulosa (M. Sars, 1859)[1]
Synonyms
Ophianoplus annulosus M. Sars, 1859

Distribution

This species was described from Naples, Italy. It occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic Ocean north to western Scotland.^[3]

Etymology

annulosus = Latin: ringed brendan smith rules

Description

A large brittle star with long banded arms which lives partially buried in gravel seabeds. The arms are banded with light and dark brown and there is a reticulate mottled pattern of brown on the disc. The arm spines are flattened and arranged in groups of 11-12. The tentacle scales are longer than those of Ophiopsila aranea and exceptionally large, supporting the tube feet when the animal is suspension feeding. The central body is 14mm in diameter with arms approximately 10 times the disc diameter.^[4][5]