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Related: About this forumBizarre 'alien' sea creature caught off Singapore
This has been identified as a species of Gorgonocephalus ("Gorgon head" , a basket star in the class Ophiuroidea.
Wikipedia:
Gorgonocephalus is a genus of marine basket stars in the class Ophiuroidea. Members of this genus are found in coldwater environments including the Arctic, the Antarctic, and deep-sea habitats. The scientific name comes from the Greek, gorgós meaning "dreaded" and cephalus meaning "head", and refers to the similarity between these echinoids and the Gorgon's head from Greek myth with its coiled serpents for hair.
Description
Members of this genus have a central disc with five arms which repeatedly bifurcate, dichotomously branching into smaller and smaller subdivisions. They have an endoskeleton of calcified ossicles as do other ophiuroids, but in their case, it is covered by a fleshy layer of skin, giving them a rubbery appearance. To feed, a basket star perches in an elevated position such as on a sponge, and extend its arms in a basket-like fashion. The branches and branchlets twist and coil and may ensnare small crustaceans that come within reach such as the northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica). The arms are covered in tiny hooks and spines which hold the prey. Along with the tube feet, these convey it to the mouth, which is on the underside of the central disc.
Description
Members of this genus have a central disc with five arms which repeatedly bifurcate, dichotomously branching into smaller and smaller subdivisions. They have an endoskeleton of calcified ossicles as do other ophiuroids, but in their case, it is covered by a fleshy layer of skin, giving them a rubbery appearance. To feed, a basket star perches in an elevated position such as on a sponge, and extend its arms in a basket-like fashion. The branches and branchlets twist and coil and may ensnare small crustaceans that come within reach such as the northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica). The arms are covered in tiny hooks and spines which hold the prey. Along with the tube feet, these convey it to the mouth, which is on the underside of the central disc.
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Bizarre 'alien' sea creature caught off Singapore (Original Post)
William Seger
Oct 2014
OP
MFM008
(19,804 posts)1. nightmarish
but I'm sure somebody somewhere will eat it.
nilram
(2,886 posts)10. on the dock, definitely weird, but check it out in it's native environment --
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgonocephalus#mediaviewer/File:Gorgeucnemis.jpeg
beautiful. I feel sorry for the one in the video.
beautiful. I feel sorry for the one in the video.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)2. I think it's the SSM--
the Swimming Spaghetti Monster.
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)3. Fractals anyone?
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)6. Yep.
GMTA.
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)11. Actually reminds me of the cerebral
Blood supply.
Ha!
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)13. Well, once you know what to look for, you see them everywhere.
I mean, EVERYWHERE.
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)14. LOL. nt
Adsos Letter
(19,459 posts)4. ...ossicles...
"A small boney structure..."
Interesting. Learned a new word that has a satisfying ring.
Cool looking critter. Thanks for posting it.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)5. "The arms are covered in tiny hooks and spines which hold the prey"
Or your hand, I'm sure.
In the sea everything is eating everything else.
The Wizard
(12,541 posts)7. Fukishima (NT)
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)8. Bill Maher made a Chris Christie joke about it.
"It was so weird that scientists had to study it before Chris Christie grabbed it, deep fried it, and ate it."
Old Weird Harold would have loved it. He was my faculty advisor. He had a Ph.D. in mollusks.
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)9. Bizarre in that we are not familiar with it. In nature, probably not.
littlemissmartypants
(22,631 posts)12. Excellent point. nt
newfie11
(8,159 posts)15. Fascinating
Thanks for posting.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)16. EEEEK!
Damn, thanks for the nightmares to come.