The Naked Basket Star (Astroboa nuda), a captivating member of the brittle star family, stands out with its unique appearance and intriguing feeding habits. Its name, derived from its lack of visible scales or spines, aptly describes its smooth, seemingly naked surface.
Description & Characteristics
The Astroboa nuda possesses a distinctive central disk from which multiple, branching arms extend. These arms, reminiscent of a basket, contribute to its common name. The central disk can reach a maximum size of 10 cm in diameter, while the arms can extend to a length of 60 cm. The arms are covered in numerous, small, and delicate side branches, forming a complex, intricate network that serves as a trapping mechanism for food.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Naked Basket Star thrives in the deep waters of the ocean, typically inhabiting depths between 200 and 1,000 meters. Its preferred habitat includes rocky bottoms, coral reefs, and canyons in the bathyal zone. These depths provide a suitable environment for this species, where it can find adequate food sources and suitable conditions for survival.
Taxonomy
The species Astroboa nuda belongs to the Class: Ophiuroidea, Order: Euryalida, and Family: Gorgonocephalidae. This classification places it within the diverse and fascinating group of brittle stars, highlighting its close evolutionary relationships with other members of this order.
Feeding
The Naked Basket Star is a filter feeder, relying on plankton as its primary food source. It captures its prey by spreading its intricate network of arms, effectively creating a trap to capture microscopic organisms suspended in the water. The branches of the arms are covered in tiny, hair-like structures that serve as filters, trapping the plankton as it drifts by. This unique feeding strategy allows the Astroboa nuda to thrive in its deep-sea environment, where other food sources may be scarce.
Image References