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Family: Ophiodermatidae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Reef and seagrass habitats from the intertidal to the fore reef slope; under coral rubble and in branching and foliose corals. Distribution: Caribbean Natural History Notes: One of the most abundant shallow-water species of brittle star in the Caribbean, O. appressum frequently occurs with other gregarious reef flat species. Feeding activity is nocturnal and diet includes plant material, calcareous and filamentous algae and fish feces. Individuals can retreat quickly when disturbed, and will often autotomize arms when restrained. In Panama, the species spawns from September through Novermber, and some intertidal populations may release gametes in June and July. O. appressum likely has a vitellaria larva. Egg are relatively large (0.3mm) and yolky, and non-feeding larvae are prevalent within the genus. Individuals cannot survive above 37.7 degrees. Characteristics: The largest individuals can reach 25 mm in disk diameter with arms 125 mm long, but most individuals have disks under 18 mm in diameter. Disks are covered by small, rounded granules. This species has tiny adpressed arm spines typical of the genus. The most ventral arm spine is tapered and is significantly larger than the dorsal spines. Individual coloration varies widely. Some individuals are uniformly gray, green, or brown, with small clusters of salt-and-pepper flecks; some have a mostly white disk; others have disks with irregularly shaped patches of contrasting color (green, white, black, yellow). The arms are banded with the ground color and with a lighter shade or white. |
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