Ophionotus victoriae

Ophionotus victoriae is a species of brittle star in the order Ophiurida. It has a circumpolar distribution around Antarctica.

Ophionotus victoriae
Ophionotus victoriae (lower left) and several other animals in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Ophiuroidea
Order:
Ophiurida
Family:
Ophiuridae
Genus:
Ophionotus
Species:
O. victoriae
Binomial name
Ophionotus victoriae
Bell, 1902 [1]
Synonyms[1]

Ophiura victoriae (Bell, 1902)

Description

Ophionotus victoriae is a large brittle star. It has a wide disc 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in diameter and 5 arms that reach 9 centimetres (3.5 in) in length. The colour is variable, being white, grey, brown or bluish.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Ophionotus victoriae is endemic to the seas around Antarctica where it is found at depths down to 1,266 metres (4,154 ft). It is sometimes abundant and may represent 60–90% numerically and 40–80% by mass of the total macrofauna of the area.[3]

Biology

Like other Antarctic invertebrates, Ophionotus victoriae has a slow growth rate and can live up to 22 years.[3] It is a predator and opportunistic generalist and feeds on a wide range of invertebrates, especially krill. It also scavenges, feeds on detritus and even juvenile brittle stars. It is itself preyed on by fish and also by the large brittle star, Ophiosparte gigas, from which it flees.[2] The females spawn in the Antarctic summer and the larvae develop slowly, forming part of the zooplankton before settling on the seabed and becoming juvenile brittle stars.[3]

References
  1. Stöhr, Sabine (2010). Stöhr S, O'Hara T (eds.). "Ophionotus victoriae Bell, 1902". World Ophiuroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  2. Ophionotus victoriae Bell, 1902 Antarctic Field Guide. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  3. Moya F., A, Ramos & M. E. Manjón-Cabeza (2003). "Distribution and ecology of Ophionotus victoriae Bell, 1902 (Ophiuroidea, Echinodermata) in the South Shetland Islands area (Antarctica)" (PDF). Bol. Inst. Esp. Oceanogr. 19 (1–4): 49–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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