🌟⭐️This is the dwarf brittle star or 𝘼𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙖: one of the smallest ophiure. They belong to Echinoderms, like sea stars and sea urchins, and thus have the typical radial symmetry!

💿🦷The central disk has a diameter of 5mm maximum and contains all the internal organs. Another time I will show you the ventral side with its impressive 5 jaws…

💪🦾Each of the 5 arms is approximately 4x times longer than the diameter of the disk and attached to it under the radial shields. The arms are supported by an internal skeleton of calcium carbonate plates called vertebral ossicles, forming a spine-like structure. These “vertebrae” are articulated by means of ball-and-socket joints, and are controlled by muscles.

✨💡Last but not least, these star brittles are bioluminescent, and can produce light as a defense mechanism! With their ability to do autotomy, they can detach one of their glowing arm as a luminous bait to distract their predator and escape! How CRAZY is that!