Description:
The angular brittle star, Ophiothrix angulata, is one of the more common and successful estuarine echinoderms.  It reaches approximately 0.4 inches disk diameter, with arms 3 inches in length.  The arms bear numerous bifid and trifid (2 and 3 forked) spines. Body color is highly variable, ranging from warm rose, red, orange and crimson to cool shades of blue and purple.  Brown, gray, and green individuals have also been observed.  Arms may be banded with a contrasting color.

Habitat:
The angular brittle star is very successful in estuaries and may be found in a variety of shallow water habitats including piers and pilings, oyster beds, seagrass meadows, and in coral reefs.  They are often found in association with sessile organisms such as gorgonians (sea fans), sponges, and attached algae.  Their populations may be especially dense in some areas, with more than 100 individuals found per liter of algae.  

Range:  
Angular brittle stars range from North Carolina and Bermuda south through eastern Florida, the Dry Tortugas and the Gulf coast of Florida.