ECHINODERM SPECIES
Click on a link below to jump directly to a specific echinoderm category:
Brittle Stars
Sea Cucumbers
Sea Stars
Sea Urchins
Video of Sanctuary Invertebrates - This includes a variety of crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, and worms.
Brittle Star List
The following brittle stars are found within the coral cap region of the sanctuary (0-130 ft, 0-40m deep). Common names are listed, if known.
Brittle Stars
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
| |
Amphiodia pulchella |
| |
Amphioplus tumidus |
| |
Asteroschema sp. |
| |
Astrocyclus caecilia |
| Basket Star |
Astrophyton muricatum |
| |
Asteroporpa annulata |
| |
Gorgonocephalus sp. |
| |
Ophiactis algicola |
| Five-armed Ophiactis |
Ophiactis quinqueradia |
| Savigny's Brittle Star |
Ophiactis savignyi |
| Blunt-spined/Spiny Brittle Star |
Ophiocoma echinata |
Red Ophiocoma
 |
Ophiocoma wendtii |
| |
Ophiocomella ophiactoides |
| Banded-arm/Harlequin Brittle Star |
Ophioderma appressum |
| Serpent Star |
Ophioderma brevispinum |
Ruby Brittle Star
(breeding group)
|
Ophioderma rubicundum |
| Scaly Brittle/Red Serpent Star |
Ophioderma squamosissimum |
| Elegant Brittle Star |
Ophiolepis elegans |
| |
Ophiophragmus sp. |
| Reticulated Brittle Star |
Ophionereis reticulata |
| |
Ophiostigma isacanthus |
| Angular Brittle Star |
Ophiothrix angulata |
Suenson's/Sponge Brittle
Star |
Ophiothrix suensonii |
| |
Ophiurochaeta littoralis |
top of page
Sea Cucumber List
The following sea cucumbers are found within the coral cap region of the sanctuary (0-130 ft, 0-40m deep). Common names are listed, if known.
Sea Cucumbers
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Five-toothed Sea Cucumber
(spawning posture)
|
Actinopyga agassizii |
Beaded Sea Cucumber
|
Euapta lappa |
| |
Holothuria lentiginosa |
Chocolate Chip/Three-rowed Cucumber
|
Isostichopus (Stichopus) badionotus |
| Cucumber |
Thyone pseudofusus |
top of page
Sea Star List
The following sea stars are found within the coral cap region of the sanctuary (0-130 ft, 0-40m deep). Common names are listed, if known.
Sea Stars
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
| |
Astropecten comptus |
| |
Asterinopsis lymani |
| |
Asterinopsis pilosis |
| |
Coronaster briareus |
| |
Goniaster tessellatus |
| Common Comet Star |
Linckia guildingii |
| |
Linckia nodosa |
Nail Sea Star
Image: Steve & Brandi Miller |
Mithrodia clavigera |
| |
Sclerasterias contorta |
top of page
Sea Urchin List
The following sea urchins are found within the coral cap region of the sanctuary (0-130 ft, 0-40m deep). Common names are listed, if known.
Sea Urchins
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Purple-spined Sea Urchin
|
Arbacia punctulata
|
| |
Centrostephanus longispinus rubricingulus |
| |
Coelopleurus floridanus
|
Long-spined Sea Urchin
(habitat for small fish)
|
Diadema antillarum
|
Slate-pencil Urchin
(wedged in a crevice)
|
Eucidaris tribuloides |
| |
Genocidaris maculata |
| |
Lytechinus euerces
|
| Green/Variegated Sea Urchin |
Lytechinus variegatus |
| Red Heart Urchin |
Meoma ventricosa |
| |
Paraster doederleini |
| Stained Collector Urchin |
Pseudoboletia maculata maculata |
| Red Sea urchin |
Stylocidaris affinis |
top of page
Download a List of Echinoderm Species (116kb pdf) found in the coral cap region of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
