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Phylum Echinodermata, Jurassic, Solnhofen Region,
Bavaria, Germany
Brittle Stars are named for their star like appearance and
long fragile arms. They have five arms that radiate from a central
body equipped with a mouth on the ventral (bottom) side which
also serves for excretion of wastes. They travel along the sea
floor feeding on small animals. They move by snake like movements
of their arms which they can regenerate if they break off.
Ophiopetra sp., has thorny arms and a round central
body. Sinosura sp. is similar to Ophioptera sp.,
but its arms are somewhat thinner and less thorny.
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