Amphipholis squamata

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Amphipholis squamata	Common name	Small brittle star
MCS Code	ZB160	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Echinodermata	Subphylum	Asterozoa
Superclass		Class	Ophiuroidea
Subclass		Order	Ophiurida
Suborder		Family	Amphiuridae
Genus	Amphipholis	Species	squamata
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward et al., 1996, Mortensen, 1927, Hayward & Ryland, 1995a, Picton, 1993, Emson & Whitfield, 1989
General Biology
Growth form	Radial, Stellate	Feeding method
Mobility/Movement	Crawler	Environmental position
Typical food types	Algae, small macrofauna, copepods, ostracods.	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator		Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	2 cm	Growth Rate	Not researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Gregarious
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Emson & Whitfield, 1989, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1990
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Widely distributed throughout the British Isles and Ireland. It is often overlooked, and therefore probably under recorded.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe, the Mediterranean, western India, eastern China, Australia and New Zealand, and on the eastern and western shores of the United States and Canada.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	0 - 250 m
Migratory
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Gravel / shingle	Physiographic preferences
Biological zone		Wave exposure
Tidal stream strength/Water flow		Salinity
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, Mortensen, 1927, Hayward & Ryland, 1995a, Picton, 1993, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Fish & Fish, 1996, Foster-Smith, 2000, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Mortensen, 1927
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type		Developmental mechanism	Direct Development, Brooding
Reproductive Season	All year but mainly summer	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency		Regeneration potential	Yes
Life span	3-5 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1 year
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	100
Egg/propagule size	125 µm diameter	Fertilization type
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period Not relevant Duration of larval stage
Additional Information	Amphipholis are potentially self-fertilizing. They are hermaphroditic although the exact type of hermaphroditism has not been recorded.
Reproduction References	Emson & Whitfield, 1989, Fish & Fish, 1996, Emson et al., 1989