Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of brittle star (Ophiothrix sp), North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of Brittlestar (Ophiothrix sp.) on Sea pen (Virgularia sp.). Rinca, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Kaleidoscopic image of Brittlestar (Ophiothrix species) on soft coral on which there are Acoel flatworms (Waminoa species). Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Yellow sun star (Solaster endeca) amongst Brittle stars (Ophiothrix fragilis) on a Horse mussel bed (Modiolus modiolus) Sheltand Islands, Scotland, UK, September.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Horse mussel bed (Modiolus modiolus) with Brittle stars (Ophiothrix fragilis),Edible crab (Cancer pagurus) and Northern sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) Sheltand Islands, Scotland, UK, S...

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus) with brittle stars (Ophiothrix fragilis), Shetland, Scotland, UK, August.

Georgette Douwma / Brittlestar (Ophiothrix species) on soft coral. West Papua, Indonesia. Indo-West Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Brittlestar (Ophiothrix species) on soft coral. West Papua, Indonesia. Indo-West Pacific.

Georgette Douwma / Brittlestar (Ophiothrix species) on a Network Lamellaria / Black Velutinid (Coriocella nigra). West Papua, Indonesia. Indo-West Pacific.

Nick Upton / Common brittle star (Ophiothrix fragilis) moving over rock. In rockpool, Devon, England, UK. September.

Nick Upton / Common brittle star (Ophiothrix fragilis) from English Channel. South Devon, England, UK. September.

Georgette Douwma / Dark red-spined brittle star (Ophiothrix purpurea) and Colonial anemones (Amphianthus nitidus). North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Dark red-spined brittle star (Ophiothrix purpurea). North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Dark red-spined brittle star (Ophiothrix purpurea) North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Nick Upton / Common brittle star (Ophiothrix fragilis) moving in a rockpool, with a Common limpet (Patella vulgata) nearby, Cornwall, England, UK, September.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) bed with Brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis) and Edible crab (Cancer pagurus), Shetland, Scotland, UK, September.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Yellow sun star (Solaster endeca) surrounded by brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis), Shetland, Scotland, September.

Solvin Zankl / Tiny Brittlestars (Ophiothrix sp) wrapped around the branches of Fan coral, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean.

Georgette Douwma / Brittlestar (Ophiothrix species) Rinca, Komodo Natioal Park, Indonesia, October

Georgette Douwma / Brittlestar (Ophiothrix species) on Sponge, Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia, October

Georgette Douwma / Composite image of echinoderms on black background. top left to right: Pineapple sea cucumber (Thelenota ananas), Yellow sea cucumber (Colochirus robustus), Frianti's starfish (Nardoa frianti),...

David Hall / Suenson's brittle star (Ophiothrix suensonii) on Azure vase sponge (Callyspongia plicifera), St. Vincent, Caribbean.

Henley Spiers / Common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis) covering the seabed. Shetland, Scotland, North Sea, UK. May.

Henley Spiers / Common sunstar (Crossaster papposus) on a seabed covered with Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis), Shetland, Scotland, North Sea, UK. May.

Henley Spiers / Seven-armed starfish (Luidia ciliaris) feeding on Common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis) on the seabed, Shetland, Scotland, North Sea, UK. May.

Alex Mustard / Great spider crab (Hyas araneus) attacking the camera, amongst a bed of Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis) and Deadman's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum), Loch Carron, Highlands, Scotland, UK.

Alex Mustard / Pair of mating orange Nudibranchs (Tritonia hombergi) in a bed of Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis) and their favourite food, Deadman's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum), Loch Carron, Highlands...

Alex Mustard / Pair of mating orange Nudibranchs (Tritonia hombergi) in a bed of Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis) and their favourite food, Deadman's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum), Loch Carron, Highlands...

Alex Mustard / Bed of Hedgehog maerl / Pink coralline algae (Lithothamnion glaciale) is colonised by common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis) and a common starfish (Asterias rubens). Tayvallich, Argyll and Bute, Th...

Alex Mustard / Edible crab (Cancer pagurus) feeding on a Bed of Hedgehog maerl / Pink coralline algae (Lithothamnion glaciale) is colonised by common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis). Tayvallich, Argyll and Bute,...

Alex Mustard / Bed of Hedgehog maerl / Pink coralline algae (Lithothamnion glaciale) is colonised by common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis) and a common starfish (Asterias rubens). Tayvallich, Argyll and Bute, Th...

Alex Mustard / Bed of Hedgehog maerl / Pink coralline algae (Lithothamnion glaciale) is colonised by common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis). Tayvallich, Argyll and Bute, The Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom. L...

Alex Mustard / Portrait of a Long-spined sea scorpionfish (Taurulus bubalis) in a bed of common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis).Fort William, Lochaber, The Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom. Loch Linnhe, North...

Alex Mustard / Anemone hermit crab (Pagurus prideaux) carrying an anemone (Adamsia palliata) digs in the sand at the base of a bed of common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis). Fort William, Lochaber, The Highlands,...

Alex Mustard / Large Great spider crab (Hyas araneus) clambers over a seabed covered in colourful Common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis). Fort William, Lochaber, The Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom. Loch Linn...

Alex Mustard / Detail of an orange coloured, black brittlestar (Ophiocomina nigra) in a bed of common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis). Fort William, Lochaber, The Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom. Loch Linnhe,...

Alex Mustard / Common brittlestars (Ophiothrix fragilis) mass together on orange and white soft corals , Dead man's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum). St Abbs, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. Briti...

Claudio Contreras / Sponge brittle star (Ophiothrix suensonii) over Pink Vase sponge (Niphates digitalis), Sponge zoanthid (Parazoanthus parasiticus) colonizing sponge, Cozumel Island, Caribbean Sea, Mexico.

Georgette Douwma / Dark red spined brittlestar (Ophiothrix purpurea) on Coral. Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Dark red spined brittlestar (Ophiothrix purpurea) with Green urn sea squirts(Didemnum molle). Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia.