BIOTIC Species Information for Amphipholis squamata
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| Researched by | Lizzie Tyler | Data supplied by | University of Sheffield | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed. | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Amphipholis squamata | Common name | Small brittle star | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZB160 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Echinodermata | Subphylum | Asterozoa | ||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Ophiuroidea | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Ophiurida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Amphiuridae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Amphipholis | Species | squamata | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward et al., 1996, Mortensen, 1927, Hayward & Ryland, 1995a, Picton, 1993, Emson & Whitfield, 1989, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Radial Stellate |
Feeding method | |||||||||||||
| Mobility/Movement | Crawler |
Environmental position | |||||||||||||
| Typical food types | Algae, small macrofauna, copepods, ostracods. | Habit | Free living | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Fragile | Size | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | 2 cm | Growth Rate | Not researched | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | Not researched | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Gregarious | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Emson & Whitfield, 1989, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Widely distributed throughout the British Isles and Ireland. It is often overlooked, and therefore probably under recorded. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Found in north-west Europe, the Mediterranean, western India, eastern China, Australia and New Zealand, and on the eastern and western shores of the United States and Canada. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Temperate to warm temperate. | Depth range | 0 - 250 m | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Gravel / shingle |
Physiographic preferences | |||||||||||||
| Biological zone | Wave exposure | ||||||||||||||
| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Salinity | ||||||||||||||
| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Hayward et al., 1996, Mortensen, 1927, Hayward & Ryland, 1995a, Picton, 1993, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Fish & Fish, 1996, Foster-Smith, 2000, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Mortensen, 1927, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Developmental mechanism | Direct Development Brooding |
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| Reproductive Season | All year but mainly summer | Reproductive Location | As adult | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Regeneration potential | Yes | |||||||||||||
| Life span | 3-5 years | Age at reproductive maturity | 1 year | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Not researched | Fecundity | 100 | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | 125 µm diameter | Fertilization type | |||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Amphipholis are potentially self-fertilizing. They are hermaphroditic although the exact type of hermaphroditism has not been recorded. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Emson & Whitfield, 1989, Fish & Fish, 1996, Emson et al., 1989, | ||||||||||||||
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