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Family: Ophiomyxidae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: All reef habitats and zones, and seagrass beds. Distribution: Caribbean Natural History Notes: The species feeds nocturnally on algae, sponge, and detritus. Very small individuals are found in clumps of algae, and larger individuals spend days in crevices in coral reefs. In Panama, males are slightly smaller and less common than females. Two modes of reproduction have been observed in Panama (which might be explained by an undescribed congener): Between March and July, females that brood embryos have large, yolky, negatively buoyant eggs. Other females with more numerous, smaller, positively buoyant eggs do not brood. The scientific name loosely translates to "soft mucus-snake". Depth: less than 100 m Characteristics: These brittle stars reach 26 mm in disk diameter with arms 130 mm long. The arms have a rough texture due to minute serrations on the arm spines. The teeth and oral papillae are also serrated. Individuals may be green, yellow, orange, red, or brown, with flecked or mottled disks and cream or ground-colored banded arms. |