Description
Brittle-stars with scales on both sides of the disc. The mouth papillae form a continuous series around the jaw. A single vertical row of teeth, no tooth papillae. There is a second pair of tube-feet inside the mouth edge. The arm spines are appressed against the arms. The arms are usually rather short, often with a single or with double combs of papillae at the base.
In the North Sea five species of this family are found:
- Ophiura ophiura
- Ophiura sarsii
- Ophiura albida
- Ophiura robusta
- Ophiura affinis
Remark
The genus Ophiura de Lamarck, 1801 is also classified in the family Ophiuridae J. Müller & Troschel, 1840.