Some echinoderms from Heron Island and Lizard Island, Australia
Asteroidea - sea stars
Acanthaster planci, the crown-of-thorns starfish is a sea star with a bad reputation for destroying coral reefs. Research shows that A. planci periodically occurs in large numbers, but in the long periods between these mass occurrences, reefs can recover. This species is toxic and its sting can cause great pain and long-term ill-effects, although no deaths in humans have been reported. Any direct contact with these spiny animals should be avoided. Read more about echinoderm envenomation.
Linckia laevigata, blue is a rare colour in echinoderms
Ophidiaster sp.
Culcita novaeguineae, a cushion star
Ophiuroidea - brittle stars
Ophiolepis superba, an ophiolepidid with a spectacular colour pattern, dorsal side, and ventral sideOphiarachna incrassata, with a disc diameter of up to 5 cm and arms 4-5 times as long, one of the largest non-branching brittle stars, sporting a beautiful green colour pattern.
Macrophiothrix sp., with their enourmously long arms the species of this genus are easily recognizable. They often hide in small crevices among coral and are difficult to collect without breaking the arms.
Ophiothrix fragilis with a parasitic snail, Eulima bilineata, of the family Eulimidae.
Snails of this group are often found on echinoderms and many species are very host-specific, parasitizing only on a particular species of echinoderm or a few closely related species. The systematics of eulimids and their relationships with their hosts are studied by Anders Warén at the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
Ophiacantha dallasi with parasitic snail, Stilapex sp.
Macrophiothrix longipeda with parasitic snail, Stilapex thielei
Echinoidea - sea urchins
Echinostrephus aciculatusEchinoneus cyclostomus
Heterocentrotus sp. on coral reef
Holothuroidea - sea cucumbers
unidentified holothuroid on coral reef
All images and species identifications by Anders Warén, text Sabine Stöhr
Print page
