Basket stars are complex and ornate relatives of brittle stars. Each radial arm
branches into many separate extensions. This view is of the aboral side.
Astrophyton
sp.
Family
Gorgonocephalidae
| Abundance: uncommon | Distribution: mid-shelf (30 m) |
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Basket stars are complex
and ornate relatives of brittle stars. Each radial arm
branches into many separate extensions. This view is of the aboral side.
The ornate arms can extend to help grab prey.
Basket star arms branch into many tiny branchlets.
Ventral (left) and dorsal views of the central disk.
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The ventral surface of the disk shows the mouth. Gonads are exposed between
the radial arms on the underside of the dorsal side of the disk.
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The branched arms have hundreds of sharp hooks along the
margins. These hooks help the organism hold prey.
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