Ophiocoma erinaceus

Ophiocoma erinaceus is an echinoderm, more specifically a brittle star of the Ophiocomidae family.[1]

Ophiocoma erinaceus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Ophiacanthida
Family: Ophiocomidae
Genus: Ophiocoma
Species:
O. erinaceus
Binomial name
Ophiocoma erinaceus
Müller & Troschel, 1842

Description

Ophiocoma erinaceus is black with red tube feet.[1][2] On the arm segments, there are three arm spines on one segment while the other has four. The next segment occurs in reverse order.[3] In Hawaii, it is the largest brittle star, with sizes of the arms going up to 5 ½ inches, and the disk can be about 1 inch in diameter.[1]

Distribution & Habitat

Ophiocoma erinaceus is distributed within the Indo-Pacific oceans and can be found under rocks and stones.[1]

Human Uses

The saponin and antioxidants Ophiocoma erinaceus produces is the subject of interest to researchers as it has been studied for medical research.[4] It has been observed that the saponin extracted from Ophiocoma erinaceus can decrease and inhibit the growth of HeLa human cervix cancer cells.[4]

References

  1. Hoover, John P. (1998). Hawai'i's sea creatures : a guide to Hawai'i's marine invertebrates. [Honolulu, Hawaii]: Mutual Pub. ISBN 1-56647-220-2. OCLC 41975146.
  2. Benavides-Serrato, Milena; O´Hara, Timothy D. (2008). "A new species in the Ophiocoma erinaceus complex from the South-west Pacific Ocean (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiocomidae)". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 65: 51–56. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2008.65.4. ISSN 1447-2546.
  3. O'Hara, Timothy D.; Hugall, Andrew F.; Cisternas, Paula A.; Boissin, Emilie; Bribiesca-Contreras, Guadalupe; Sellanes, Javier; Paulay, Gustav; Byrne, Maria (2019). "Phylogenomics, life history and morphological evolution of ophiocomid brittlestars". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 130: 67–80. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.003. PMID 30308280. S2CID 52965126.
  4. "Hemolytic and cytotoxic effects of saponin like compounds isolated from Persian Gulf brittle star (Ophiocoma erinaceus)" (PDF). Journal of Coastal Life Medicine. 2014-06-30. doi:10.12980/JCLM.2.2014JCLM-2014-0056.


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