User:Taylor Shelton/sandbox

General Information
The Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiothrix spiculata) is an Echinoderm in the Ophiuroidea class. Like all other brittle stars, spiny brittle stars have a central disk to which several flexible arms are attached. These arms are often covered in spines, and the disk is completely covered with short spinules and spines. These brittle stars live in shallow-water marine habitats in the eastern Pacific, ranging from California to northern Peru. The Spiny Brittle Star is one of the most abundant species in the coral reefs off the coast of Mexico. Ophiothrix spiculatas’ arms are more serrated than other members of the Ophiothrix genus. The spinules on the disk, however, are smaller compared to similar species. The spiny brittle star is one of the most abundant brittle stars ever studied. The Spiny Brittle Star requires an oxygen rich environment and is therefore used as an indicator species of oxygen in the oceans. The disk can grow to approximately 0.7 inches and the arms can reach lengths up to 8 times the length of the disk. The jaws of Spiny Brittle Stars are lined with spines at the apex and lack oral papillae. Ophiothrix spiculata, like most Ophiuroidea, can detach their arms when under threat. This usually occurs during an attack and their arms almost always grow back completely.

Reproduction
There are not many details known about the reproductive process of the Spiny Brittle Star. There are several instances noted of spawning occurring around July around the California coast. The egg sacs of the females protrude from the disk in the sections between the arms. Broadcast spawning then takes place and the fertilized eggs eventually develop into free swimming larvae the eat plankton. Most species in the class Ophiuroidea are gonochoric. Fertilization is always internal.

Feeding
Most species in the genus Ophiothrix are suspension feeders. Suspension feeding is when a species captures and ingests food particles that are suspended in the water around them. Because of the fact that suspension feeding is affected by water movement, the best suspension feeding occurs when the speed of the water movement is less that 20cm/s. This also affects the amount of time the species has to feed.