BIOTIC Species Information for Ophiura ophiura
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| Researched by | Lizzie Tyler | Data supplied by | University of Sheffield | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed. | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Ophiura ophiura | Common name | Serpent star | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZB170 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Echinodermata | Subphylum | Asterozoa | ||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Ophiuroidea | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Ophiurida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Ophiuridae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Ophiura | Species | ophiura | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Southward & Campbell, 2006, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Radial Stellate |
Feeding method | Predator Scavenger |
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| Mobility/Movement | Swimmer Crawler Burrower |
Environmental position | Epifaunal Epibenthic |
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| Typical food types | Small bivalves, polychaetes, crustaceans and carrion | Habit | Free living | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Not relevant | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
| Fragility | Fragile | Size | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Not researched | Growth Rate | Not Researched | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | 1km-10km | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Wilding & Gage, 1995, Webb & Tyler, 1985, Dahm, 1993, Gage, 1990, Ramsay & Kaiser, 1998, Feder, 1981, Hughes, 1998, Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Found on all British and Irish coasts. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Found in north-west Europe from Norway to the Shetlands and south to Spain and the Azores, in the Mediterranean off Turkey and Malta and in the Black Sea off the coasts of Ukraine. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Temperate to warm temperate. | Depth range | |||||||||||||
| Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Coarse clean sand Fine clean sand Sandy mud Muddy sand Mud Gravelley sand Gravelly mud |
Physiographic preferences | Open coast Offshore seabed Strait / sound Sealoch Ria / Voe Estuary |
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| Biological zone | Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral Circalittoral Offshore Bathybenthic (Bathyal) |
Wave exposure | Field unresearched |
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| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Field unresearched |
Salinity | Full (30-40 psu) |
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| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Gonochoristic |
Developmental mechanism | |||||||||||||
| Reproductive Season | Not researched | Reproductive Location | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual protracted | Regeneration potential | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 6-10 years | Age at reproductive maturity | 1-2 years | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Not researched | Fecundity | |||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Fertilization type | External | |||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Webb & Tyler, 1985, Gage, 1990, Tyler, 1977a, Hughes, 1998, Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Julie Bremner, unpub data, | ||||||||||||||
BIOTIC - Biological Traits Information Catalogue
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