Brittle Star

Amphiura filiformis

A. filiformis is a small brittle star that lives in soft bottom sediment. These brittle stars burrow down into the sediment and extend their arms into the water column to collect food particles. The extended arms may get eaten by predatory fish or damaged by physical factors. The arms then easily break off but can be regenerated by the animal. The new arms develop fully with a new functional nerve system.

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Written by Rob Nelson

Rob is an ecologist from the University of Hawaii. He is the co-creator and director of Untamed Science. His goal is to create videos and content that are entertaining, accurate, and educational. When he's not making science content, he races whitewater kayaks and works on Stone Age Man.

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