Ophioderma (echinoderm)


Ophioderma is a genus of brittle stars in the family Ophiodermatidae. Research on the Ophiuroid rubicundum species has discovered the creatures oppurtunistic behaviors and ability to adapt in the circumstances of a new given environment. Alongside their high adaptability, their strong feeding responses allow them to thrive in the depths of the coral reefs seen in the western Atlantic.
Reproduction:
Brittle stars can reproduce in three different ways, sexual, asexual, and larval.
In sexual reproduction, they engage in broadcast spawning, which is releasing eggs and sperm in the water where external fertilization occurs. The fertilized egg turns into planktonic larvae that drift before settling on the ocean floor; then, they mature into adult brittle stars.
During asexual reproduction, they reproduce through regeneration. When an arm is lost, it can regenerate and, in some species, form a new arm. This form of reproduction allows certain species to enhance their survival.
And lastly, larval development, following fertilization, brittle star larvae undergo various developmental stages before transitioning into adulthood. In some species, larvae may remain attached to the parent until they can sustain themselves.
https://marine-conservation.org/on-the-tide/denizens-of-the-deep-are-brittle-stars-the-best-house-guests/
Feeding behavior: Brittle stars have been observed to opportunistically feed on the spawn of various coral species. During coral spawning, the Brittle Star will coil it's arms around gamete bundles released by the coral.

Species

It includes the following species:Ophioderma africanum Stöhr, Weber, Boissin & Chenuil, 2020Ophioderma aija Humara-Gil, Granja-Fernandez, Bautista-Guerrero, Solis-Marin & Rodriguez-Troncoso, 2024Ophioderma anitae Hotchkiss, 1982Ophioderma appressum Ophioderma besnardi Tommasi, 1970Ophioderma bichi Humara-Gil, Granja-Fernandez, Bautista-Guerrero, Solis-Marin & Rodriguez-Troncoso, 2024Ophioderma brevicaudum Lütken, 1856Ophioderma brevispinum Ophioderma devaneyi Hendler & Miller, 1984Ophioderma divae Tommasi, 1971Ophioderma elaps Lütken, 1856Ophioderma ensiferum Hendler & Miller, 1984Ophioderma guineense Greeff, 1882Ophioderma guttatum Lütken, 1859Ophioderma hendleri Granja-Fernandez, Pineda-Enriquez, Solis-Marin & Laguarda-Figueras, 2020Ophioderma holmesii Ophioderma hybridum Stöhr, Weber, Boissin & Chenuil, 2020Ophioderma januarii Lütken, 1856Ophioderma longicaudum Ophioderma occultum Humara-Gil, Granja-Fernandez, Bautista-Guerrero & Rodriguez-Troncoso, 2022Ophioderma pallidum Ophioderma panamense Lütken, 1859Ophioderma pentacanthum H.L. Clark, 1917Ophioderma peruanum Pineda-Enriquez, Solis-Marin, Hooker & Laguarda-Figueras, 2013Ophioderma phoenium H.L. Clark, 1918Ophioderma propinquum Koehler, 1895Ophioderma rubicundum Lütken, 1856Ophioderma squamosissimum Lütken, 1856Ophioderma teres Ophioderma tonganum Lütken, 1872Ophioderma unicolor H.L. Clark, 1940Ophioderma vansyoci Hendler, 1996Ophioderma variegatum Lütken, 1856Ophioderma wahlbergii Müller & Troschel, 1842Ophioderma zibrowii Stöhr, Weber, Boissin & Chenuil, 2020
  • † Ophioderma bonaudoae Martinez & Del Rio, 2008
  • † Ophioderma delsatei Thuy, 2005
  • † Ophioderma dentatum Kutscher, 1988
  • † Ophioderma hauchecorni Eck, 1872
  • † Ophioderma radiatum Kutscher & Jagt, 2000
  • † Ophioderma spectabile Hess, 1966
  • † Ophioderma substriatum
  • † Ophioderma tenuibrachiatum Forbes, 1843
  • † Ophioderma waliabadense Kristan-Tollmann, Tollmann & Hamedani, 1979