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Description:
Amphiodia pulchella is a small, cryptic brittle star that seldom
exceeds 0.2 inches in disk diameter. The arms are slender and appear
fragile, growing to 1.5 - 2 inches in length. Closely joined radial
shields cover the disk surface. There is only a single tentacle scale.
Body color is typically brown-gray to gray, with the primary plates and
scaling being reddish to purple-gray in color. The arms are generally
pale gray banded with darker gray, brown or reddish-brown coloration.
The tube feet are bulbous at their tips.
Habitat:
Amphiodia pulchella is a shallow burrowing species found in
depths between 3 - 325 feet. It is common in the soft sediments of
seagrass beds, especially Halodule wrightii. It is also found
among clumps of algae, particularly Halimedia spp., or between coral
colonies. It can be abundant in poorly oxygenated sediments.
Range:
Amphiodia pulchella ranges from Bermuda through Florida, the Gulf of
Mexico and Belize south to Brazil.
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Amphiodia pulchella, a small,
burrowing brittle star. Photo by J.
Miller, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution; courtesy of D. Pawson, National
Museum of Natural History. Used with permission.
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Close-up of the disks of 2 Amphiodia
pulchella. Photo by J. Miller, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution; courtesy of D. Pawson, National
Museum of Natural History. Used with
permission.
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In response to being disturbed, or when it is falling through the water,
Amphpodia pulchella
responds by folding its arms tightly and holding them across its disk.
It is believed that this response helps decrease the surface area of the
animal, allowing it to sink quickly to the bottom and possibly avoid
predation by sea stars and some fishes.
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