Biodiversity & Conservation

A brittlestar - Amphiura filiformis - General information

Amphiura filiformis

Image Crown copyright - Close up of arms and disc of Amphiura filiformis. Image width ca XX cm.
Image copyright information

  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
Distribution map

Amphiura filiformis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Amphiura filiformis?
If so please submit your record.

Amphiura filiformis is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Jacqueline Hill and Emily Wilson Text page icon Refereed by: Dr Mattias Sköld

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Echinodermata Starfish, brittlestars, sea urchins & sea cucumbers
Class Stelleroidea Starfish, sea stars, cushion stars and brittlestars
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Most British and Irish coasts although records have not been found for the south east of England.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Lives buried in the surface of fine muddy sands, mostly at depths greater than 15 m although can be found at extreme low water.
Text page icon Description A small brittle star, disc up to 10 mm in diameter, with very long arms (10x disc diameter) which lives buried in muddy sand. The dorsal side of the disc is covered with fine scales but the ventral side is naked. It is red-grey in colour. Amphiura filiformis extends its arms vertically 3-4cm into the water current to feed, in contrast with the deposit feeding Amphiura chiajei with which it is often found.

This review can be cited as follows:

Jacqueline Hill and Emily Wilson 2008. Amphiura filiformis. A brittlestar. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 25/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=2503>