Species profile
Western Spiny Brittle Star
Ophiothrix spiculata
At a glance
Western Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiothrix spiculata) is an echinoderm present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 3,436 research-grade iNaturalist observations across the species' range.
Notable details
- This species can form dense aggregations of thousands of individuals on rocky subtidal reefs.
- Its arms are covered in glass-like calcium carbonate spicules, giving it a bristly texture.
- Ranges from British Columbia south to the Gulf of California.
- Like all brittle stars, it voluntarily sheds arms when grabbed by a predator.
- They trap tiny food particles and small organisms using their spiny, outstretched arms.
Where Western Spiny Brittle Star are seen
Background
Ophiothrix spiculata, the western spiny brittle star, is a species of marine invertebrate in the order Ophiurida. It is found along the Pacific coast of North and South America from below the San Francisco Bay to Peru. Individuals come in a variety of colors, although usually with orange longitudinal stripes on the arms, and the body can measure up to 2 cm across. This species was first described…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Western Spiny Brittle Star article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other starfish/urchins/cucumbers on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.