Onychaster flexilis


Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Superclass
Asterozoa
Class
Ophiuroidea
Order
Phrynophiurida
Suborder
Euryalina
Family
Onychasteridae
Binomial Name
Onychaster flexilis
Formation
Edwardsville Formation
Locale
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Age
Mississippian (Osagean Stage)
Notes

There are two specimens here. The first brittlestar specimen is wrapped around the ventral crown of an Agaricocrinus americanus crinoid.

This brittlestar species is commonly found in close association with crinoid crowns. On theory is that it ate the crinoids. Another theory is that it ate the excrement of the crinoid, a low quality but reliable source of nutrition.

The last picture shows the second specimen, which is by itself.


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Onychaster flexilis


Picture of Onychaster flexilis
Picture of Onychaster flexilis

Onychaster flexilis, side A


Picture of Onychaster flexilis, side A
Picture of Onychaster flexilis, side A

Onychaster flexilis, side B


Picture of Onychaster flexilis, side B
Picture of Onychaster flexilis, side B

Onychaster flexilis, side C


Picture of Onychaster flexilis, side C
Picture of Onychaster flexilis, side C

Onychaster flexilis independent


Picture of Onychaster flexilis independent
Picture of Onychaster flexilis independent