Brittle starfish Science Image

Ref: 80014623



Brittle starfish. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a brittle starfish, Amphipholis sp.. Brittle stars are echinoderms which usually, though not always, have five arms. They have flat, rounded bodies with arms that can easily be broken off by external force, however they can be readily regenerated. Brittle stars are found all over the world, but are most abundant in the tropics. They feed on decaying matter and microscopic organisms found on the ocean bed. Magnification x7 at a size of 10cm wide.