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Amphiura (Amphiura) Capensis
''Amphiura'' is a large genus of brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) found in oceans worldwide from tropics to Arctic and Antarctic regions. Systematics and phylogeny ''Amphiura'' is a large genus that is currently divided into the following six subgenera: ''Amphioplus'', ''Amphiura'', ''Fellaria'', ''Ophionema'', ''Ophiopelte'' and ''Ophiopeltis''. The once used subgenus ''Acrocnida'' has been elevated to a genus rank. The fossil record of the genus dates back to the Turonian (''Amphiura plana''). Species Extant species include:Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. ''Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa'' *''Amphiura acacia'' *''Amphiura accedens'' *''Amphiura acrisia'' *''Amphiura adjecta'' *''Amphiura aestuarii'' *''Amphiura affinis'' *''Amphiura africana'' *''Amphiura agitata'' *''Amphiura alba'' *''Amphiura albella'' *''Amphiura algida'' *''Amphiura ambigua'' *''Amphiura amokurae'' *''Amphiura angularis'' *''Amphiura annulifera'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brittle Star
Brittle stars, serpent stars, or ophiuroids (; ; referring to the serpent-like arms of the brittle star) are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea, closely related to starfish. They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms for locomotion. The ophiuroids generally have five long, slender, whip-like arms which may reach up to in length on the largest specimens. The Ophiuroidea contain two large clades, Ophiurida (brittle stars) and Euryalida (basket stars). Over 2,000 species of brittle stars live today. More than 1,200 of these species are found in deep waters, greater than 200 m deep. Range The ophiuroids diverged in the Early Ordovician, about 500 million years ago. Ophiuroids can be found today in all of the major marine provinces, from the poles to the tropics. Basket stars are usually confined to the deeper parts of this range; Ophiuroids are known even from abyssal (>6,000 m) depths. However, brittle stars are also common members of reef communities, where t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
