Ophiura ophiura

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Ophiura ophiura	Common name	Serpent star
MCS Code	ZB170	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Echinodermata	Subphylum	Asterozoa
Superclass		Class	Ophiuroidea
Subclass		Order	Ophiurida
Suborder		Family	Ophiuridae
Genus	Ophiura	Species	ophiura
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Southward & Campbell, 2006, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997
General Biology
Growth form	Radial, Stellate	Feeding method	Predator, Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Swimmer, Crawler, Burrower	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Epibenthic
Typical food types	Small bivalves, polychaetes, crustaceans and carrion	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	1km-10km	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Wilding & Gage, 1995, Webb & Tyler, 1985, Dahm, 1993, Gage, 1990, Ramsay & Kaiser, 1998, Feder, 1981, Hughes, 1998, Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Norway to the Shetlands and south to Spain and the Azores, in the Mediterranean off Turkey and Malta and in the Black Sea off the coasts of Ukraine.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Coarse clean sand, Fine clean sand, Sandy mud, Muddy sand, Mud, Gravelley sand, Gravelly mud	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Sealoch, Ria / Voe, Estuary
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore, Bathybenthic (Bathyal)	Wave exposure	Field unresearched
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	II
Distribution References	Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism
Reproductive Season	Not researched	Reproductive Location	Insufficient information
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	Yes
Life span	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1-2 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period Not researched Duration of larval stage
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Webb & Tyler, 1985, Gage, 1990, Tyler, 1977a, Hughes, 1998, Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Julie Bremner, unpub data