Name: Spiny Brittle Star
Information: The brittle star (also called the serpent star) is a spiny, hard-skinned, long-armed animal that lives on the rocky sea floor, from shallow waters to great depths. Brittle stars are not fish, but are related to sea stars. These marine invertebrates move very slowly along the seabed. There are over 2,000 different species of brittle stars worldwide. The most common brittle star is the long-armed brittle star (Amphipholis squamata), a gray-blue, luminescent species. Northern California to Peru is the range called home to many of these creatures. In kelp forests near La Jolla in southern California, millions of them may carpet the seafloor in layers up to an inch thick. They get their name because their arms are very delicate and easily break off when the animal is disturbed. But they are able to replace lost arms in several days.