56 



SEA-SHORE LIFE 



the disk being about five inches thick, and one and one-half 

 feet in diameter. The five arms are short and blxmt, and the up- 

 per surface is covered with short, blunt, rounded spines, Avith 



a network of ridges 

 between them. The 

 color is brown, or 

 brownish-vellow. 



The Green Ser- 

 pent Starfish, (Ophi- 

 uva hrcvispinaj , 

 is a West Indian 

 and Tropical Atlan- 

 tic species, but it 

 is common in some 

 parts of Long Isl- 

 and Sound where 

 the bottom is cov- 

 ered with eel grass, 

 as in Great Peconic 

 Bay. It is dark, rich 

 olive green in color, 

 and the central disk 

 is five-sided and 

 about one-half of an inch Avide. The long, slender arms arise 

 sharply from each of the five angles of the central disk. These 

 arms are each about two and one-half inches long, and are covered 

 with scales which give rise to short spines along the sides. In 

 life they thrash about in a snake-Jike manner. 



The Serpent Stars are the most active of all starfishes, for 

 their long, flexible arms and tube feet enable them to clamber 

 rapidly over the ground. Although no eyes are known to exist 

 they readily perceive the approach of an enemy, and will dart into 

 the nearest rocky crevice with remarkable rapidity. If one of the 

 arms be seized, it is immediately thrown off leaving the remaining 

 parts of the Star to escape. 



The Brittle Starfish, fOphiopholis aculeata, Fig. 29 J, is readily 

 distinguished by its mottled coloration in light gray and purplish 

 brown, no two individuals being alike in pattern. The disk is 



M?. 28; GIANT STARFISH. 

 From Sandy Bottom at Tortiigas, Florida. 



