APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

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Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- in pool / green / blue 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- top view dorsal disc 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- top view dorsal disc 2

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- underside mouth 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- underside mouth 2

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- underside mouth 3

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- mouth and arm 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- dorsal disc close-up 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- dorsal disc with arm base 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- dorsal surface arm 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- dorsal surface arm 2

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- arm underside 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- arm underside 2

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- arm underside 3

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- underwater in pool 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- in pool / orange / white 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- orange / red 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- understone 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- understone / grey / green 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- in pool / brown / black 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- brown / orange / white 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- pool / green / red / white 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- on rock / out of water 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- body / centre close-up 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- mouth close-up 1

Common brittlestar
Ophiothrix fragilis
- feeding in aquarium 1

A very common species around the south-west of England and as its name describes it is very fragile. If there is a need to handle it, it should be handled with great care, making sure all stones are carefully returned to the same position and same way up as they were found.

Scientific and European Names:
Ophiothrix fragilis, Common brittle-star, Zerbrechlicher Schlangenstern, Brokkelster, Ophiure singe, Ofiura fina, Stella serpentina spinosa.

The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help

people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.

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