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Sponge Brittle Star

The sponge brittle star (Ophiothrix suensoni) is a species of brittle starfish commonly found in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Brittle stars have long, flexible arms that they use to crawl across the ocean floor. This species has a small central disc which is clearly separated from the five long thin arms. The arms can grow up to 4.7 inches (12 cm) long and the disc can be up to 0.8 inch (2 cm) in diameter. The color of this species varies from pale mauve, pink, yellow, red or brown. It feeds on plankton and tiny particles that float past.