Ophiocanops fugiens
| Ophiocanops fugiens | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Ophiuroidea |
| Order: | incertae sedis |
| Family: | Ophiocanopidae |
| Genus: | Ophiocanops |
| Species: |
O. fugiens Koehler, 1922 |
| Binomial name | |
|
Ophiocanops fugiens |
|
Ophiocanops fugiens is the only one living species in the brittle star family Ophiocanopidae. It has been regarded as the most primitive brittle star, close to Paleozoic forms, though other authors have disagreed with the view.Ophiocanops is usually placed in the order Oegophiurida (suborder Zeugophiurina) or regarded as a genus incertae sedis or even given its own subclass Oegophiuridea. Some recent data suggest its relationship to the extant family Ophiomyxidae (it would thus belong to the order Phrynophiurida).
The arms lack dorsal and ventral shields; the madreporite is on edge of central disc. The digestive glands extend into proximal portions of arms. It has no bursae for gonads and gas exchange/excretion.
Ophiocanops fugiens is a rare species found in South Asian seas. Its habitat is shallow water and it lives in association with black corals.
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Wikipedia