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Family: Ophiotrichidae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Back reef to the fore reef slope, wherever suitable sponges occur. Distribution: Caribbean Natural History Notes: This species is an obligate commensal of coral reef sponges. The sponges help protect the brittle star from fish predators, although the species has been identified in the stomach contents of pufferfish. O. lineata feeds at night by extending its arms across the outer surface of the sponge to gather particles of sediment, detritus, and tiny organisms. This activity may help clean the sponge, enhancing its ability to filter feed. Depth: Shallow water to 49 m Characteristics: This species is moderately large and reaches at least 12 mm in disk diameter with arms 120 mm long. Like its congeners, O. lineata has jaws bearing dental papillae and lacking oral papillae. Its disk is red-brown or violet-brown, and gray. There is a continuous blackish or dark brown stripe at the center of the arm, accompanied on both sides by a pale gray stripe. Arm spines near the disk are violet or rose-hued. |