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Ophiocoma erinaceus

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Species of marine animal

Ophiocoma erinaceus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Ophiacanthida
Family: Ophiocomidae
Genus: Ophiocoma
Species: O. erinaceus
Binomial name
Ophiocoma erinaceus
Müller & Troschel, 1842

Ophiocoma erinaceus is an echinoderm, more specifically a brittle star of the Ophiocomidae family.

Description

Ophiocoma erinaceus is black with red tube feet. On the arm segments, there are three arm spines on one segment while the other has four. The next segment occurs in reverse order. In Hawaii, it is the largest brittle star, with sizes of the arms going up to 5 ½ inches, and the disk can be about 1 inch in diameter.

Distribution & Habitat

Ophiocoma erinaceus is distributed within the Indo-Pacific oceans and can be found under rocks and stones.

Human Uses

The saponin and antioxidants Ophiocoma erinaceus produces is the subject of interest to researchers as it has been studied for medical research. It has been observed that the saponin extracted from Ophiocoma erinaceus can decrease and inhibit the growth of HeLa human cervix cancer cells.

References

  1. ^ Hoover, John P. (1998). Hawai'i's sea creatures : a guide to Hawai'i's marine invertebrates. : Mutual Pub. ISBN 1-56647-220-2. OCLC 41975146.
  2. Benavides-Serrato, Milena; O´Hara, Timothy D. (2008). "A new species in the Ophiocoma erinaceus complex from the South-west Pacific Ocean (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiocomidae)". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 65: 51–56. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2008.65.4. ISSN 1447-2546.
  3. O'Hara, Timothy D.; Hugall, Andrew F.; Cisternas, Paula A.; Boissin, Emilie; Bribiesca-Contreras, Guadalupe; Sellanes, Javier; Paulay, Gustav; Byrne, Maria (2019). "Phylogenomics, life history and morphological evolution of ophiocomid brittlestars". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 130: 67–80. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.003. PMID 30308280. S2CID 52965126.
  4. ^ "Hemolytic and cytotoxic effects of saponin like compounds isolated from Persian Gulf brittle star (Ophiocoma erinaceus)" (PDF). Journal of Coastal Life Medicine. 2014-06-30. doi:10.12980/JCLM.2.2014JCLM-2014-0056.

External links

Taxon identifiers
Ophiocoma erinaceus
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