WoRMS taxon details
Ophiura ophiura (Linnaeus, 1758)
124929 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:124929)
accepted
Species
Asterias ciliaris Linnaeus, 1767 · unaccepted (synonymised by Bell (1891))
Asterias ciliata O.F. Müller, 1776 · unaccepted
Asterias ciliata Retzius, 1783 non O.F. Müller, 1776 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym (synonymized)
Asterias ophiura Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted (synonym)
Ophioderma lacertosum (Lamarck, 1801) · unaccepted (synonym)
Ophioglypha ciliaris (Linnaeus, 1788) · unaccepted (Ophioglypha is a synomym of Ophiura)
Ophioglypha texturata (Lamarck, 1816) · unaccepted
Ophiura aurora Risso, 1826 · unaccepted (synonym)
Ophiura bracteata Johnston, 1835 · unaccepted (synonym)
Ophiura ciliaris (Linnaeus, 1766) · unaccepted (junior synonym by priority rule)
Ophiura ciliata (Retzius, 1783) non (O.F. Müller, 1776) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym (synonym)
Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801 · unaccepted (synonym)
Ophiura textura (Linnaeus, 1758) · unaccepted (synonym and misspelling)
Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816 · unaccepted (superceded junior synonym)
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
(of Asterias ophiura Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors 
[request]
[request]
Description Brittle stars consist of a central disk clearly separated from the slender, very agile and also very strong arms. Ophiura...
Distribution Low intertidal to more than 200 m, on sand or muddy sand, all round the British Isles
Distribution In both periods Ophiura ophiura was found to occur in the near-coastal zone, with the exception of the eastern coastal...
Description Brittle stars consist of a central disk clearly separated from the slender, very agile and also very strong arms. Ophiura ophiura is very similar to Ophiura albida and can only be distinguished from this species by the presence of pores between the arm plates. The top is reddish to orange-brown; the bottom side is dirty white. [details]
Distribution Low intertidal to more than 200 m, on sand or muddy sand, all round the British Isles
Distribution Low intertidal to more than 200 m, on sand or muddy sand, all round the British Isles [details]
Distribution In both periods Ophiura ophiura was found to occur in the near-coastal zone, with the exception of the eastern coastal...
Distribution In both periods Ophiura ophiura was found to occur in the near-coastal zone, with the exception of the eastern coastal zone. The species always reached low densities, with a maximum of 20 ind./m2 in the 1976-1986 period and a maximum of 50 ind./m2 in the 1994-2001 period. [details]
Stöhr, S.; O’Hara, T.; Thuy, B. (Eds) (2025). World Ophiuroidea Database. Ophiura ophiura (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=124929 on 2025-04-09
The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 License
Nomenclature
original description
(of Asterias ophiura Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors [request]
original description (of Ophioderma lacertosum (Lamarck, 1801)) Lamarck, J. B. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. <em>Published by the author and Deterville, Paris.</em> : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719 [details]
original description (of Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801) Lamarck, J. B. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. <em>Published by the author and Deterville, Paris.</em> : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719 [details]
original description (of Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816) Lamarck, J.-B. de. (1816). Ordre Second. Radiaires Échinodermes. <em>Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres.</em> 2, 522-568., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13299296 [details]
original description (of Ophiura bracteata Johnston, 1835) Johnston, G. (1835). Illustrations in British Zoology. <em>Magazine of natural history and journal of zoology, botany, mineralogy, geology and meteorology.</em> 8: 465-467., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2335587
page(s): 465 [details]
original description (of Asterias ciliaris Linnaeus, 1767) Linnaeus, C. (1767). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Ed. 12. 1., Regnum Animale. 1 & 2. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature: according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places. Ed. 12. 1., Animal Kingdom. 1 & 2]. <em>Holmiae [Stockholm], Laurentii Salvii.</em> pp. 1-532 [1766] pp. 533-1327 [1767]., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/83650#5
page(s): 1101 [details]
original description (of Asterias ciliata O.F. Müller, 1776) Müller, O.F. (1776). Zoologiae Danicae prodromus, seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae indigenarum: characteres, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium. [Prodrome of Danish Zoology, or the Native Animals of Denmark and Norway: the characters, names, and synonyms of the most popular ones.]. <em>Typis Hallagerii, Havni, Copenhagen.</em> 282 pp., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47550
page(s): 235 [details]
original description (of Ophiura aurora Risso, 1826) Risso, A. (1826-1827). Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe Méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. <em>[book series].</em> 400 pp., 13 pls. [volumes 1-5. Paris, F.G. Levrault. vol. 3. Mammifères. Oiseaux. Poissons / vol. 4. Mollusques. Annélides / vol. 5. Crustacés. Myriapodes, scorpionides, arachnides et acarides. Insectes. Vers intestinaux. Radiaires. Zoophytes]., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/58984
page(s): 273 [details]
basis of record Hansson, H.G. (2001). Echinodermata, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i>. 50: pp. 336-351. (look up in IMIS) [details]
[request]original description (of Ophioderma lacertosum (Lamarck, 1801)) Lamarck, J. B. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. <em>Published by the author and Deterville, Paris.</em> : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719 [details]
original description (of Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801) Lamarck, J. B. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. <em>Published by the author and Deterville, Paris.</em> : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719 [details]
original description (of Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816) Lamarck, J.-B. de. (1816). Ordre Second. Radiaires Échinodermes. <em>Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres.</em> 2, 522-568., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13299296 [details]
original description (of Ophiura bracteata Johnston, 1835) Johnston, G. (1835). Illustrations in British Zoology. <em>Magazine of natural history and journal of zoology, botany, mineralogy, geology and meteorology.</em> 8: 465-467., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2335587
page(s): 465 [details]
original description (of Asterias ciliaris Linnaeus, 1767) Linnaeus, C. (1767). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Ed. 12. 1., Regnum Animale. 1 & 2. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature: according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places. Ed. 12. 1., Animal Kingdom. 1 & 2]. <em>Holmiae [Stockholm], Laurentii Salvii.</em> pp. 1-532 [1766] pp. 533-1327 [1767]., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/83650#5
page(s): 1101 [details]
original description (of Asterias ciliata O.F. Müller, 1776) Müller, O.F. (1776). Zoologiae Danicae prodromus, seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae indigenarum: characteres, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium. [Prodrome of Danish Zoology, or the Native Animals of Denmark and Norway: the characters, names, and synonyms of the most popular ones.]. <em>Typis Hallagerii, Havni, Copenhagen.</em> 282 pp., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47550
page(s): 235 [details]
original description (of Ophiura aurora Risso, 1826) Risso, A. (1826-1827). Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe Méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. <em>[book series].</em> 400 pp., 13 pls. [volumes 1-5. Paris, F.G. Levrault. vol. 3. Mammifères. Oiseaux. Poissons / vol. 4. Mollusques. Annélides / vol. 5. Crustacés. Myriapodes, scorpionides, arachnides et acarides. Insectes. Vers intestinaux. Radiaires. Zoophytes]., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/58984
page(s): 273 [details]
basis of record Hansson, H.G. (2001). Echinodermata, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i>. 50: pp. 336-351. (look up in IMIS) [details]
Other
context source (Schelde)
Goudswaard, K.; van Asch, M. (2015). Kuilen op de Westerschelde: data rapport 2015. <em>IMARES Wageningen Report, C145/15. IMARES Wageningen UR: Yerseke.</em> 14 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
context source (BeRMS 2020) Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ); (2013). Data collected during the expeditions of the e-learning projects Expedition Zeeleeuw and Planet Ocean. [details]
additional source Southward, E.C.; Campbell, A.C. (2006). [Echinoderms: keys and notes for the identification of British species]. <i>Synopses of the British fauna (new series)</i>, 56. Field Studies Council: Shrewsbury, UK. ISBN 1-85153-269-2. 272 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Hansson, H. G. (1998). NEAT (North East Atlantic Taxa): Scandinavian Echinodermata Check-List (Comp.). , available online at https://www.gu.se/sites/default/files/2020-10/NEAT%2AEchinodermata.pdf [details]
context source (BeRMS 2020) Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ); (2013). Data collected during the expeditions of the e-learning projects Expedition Zeeleeuw and Planet Ocean. [details]
additional source Southward, E.C.; Campbell, A.C. (2006). [Echinoderms: keys and notes for the identification of British species]. <i>Synopses of the British fauna (new series)</i>, 56. Field Studies Council: Shrewsbury, UK. ISBN 1-85153-269-2. 272 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Hansson, H. G. (1998). NEAT (North East Atlantic Taxa): Scandinavian Echinodermata Check-List (Comp.). , available online at https://www.gu.se/sites/default/files/2020-10/NEAT%2AEchinodermata.pdf [details]
Present Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Unreviewed
Breeding Ophiopluteus larva. Summer [details]Description Brittle stars consist of a central disk clearly separated from the slender, very agile and also very strong arms. Ophiura ophiura is very similar to Ophiura albida and can only be distinguished from this species by the presence of pores between the arm plates. The top is reddish to orange-brown; the bottom side is dirty white. [details]
Distribution Low intertidal to more than 200 m, on sand or muddy sand, all round the British Isles [details]
Distribution In both periods Ophiura ophiura was found to occur in the near-coastal zone, with the exception of the eastern coastal zone. The species always reached low densities, with a maximum of 20 ind./m2 in the 1976-1986 period and a maximum of 50 ind./m2 in the 1994-2001 period. [details]
Habitat Ophiura ophiura is found in fine to medium-grained sediments (median grain size: 150-500 μm) with an optimum in sediments with a grain size of 150-200 μm (relative occurrence: > 20%). The species clearly prefers sediments with a mud content of 30-40% (relative occurrence: 60%). [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Albanian | yllgjarpëri gjembavegjël [from synonym]krrabori gjembavegjël [from synonym] | [details] |
| Dutch | gewone slangster | [details] |
| English | serpent star | [details] |
| French | ophiure roseophiure | [details] |
| German | Schlangenstern | [details] |
| Norwegian Bokmål | gråbrun slangestjerne | [details] |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | gråbrun slangestjerne | [details] |
| Swedish | brungrå fransormstjärna | [details] |
Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To Barcode of Life (56 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (137 publications) (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (2 publications) (from synonym Ophioderma lacertosum (Lamarck, 1801))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (21 publications) (from synonym Ophiura ciliata (Retzius, 1783) non (O.F. Müller, 1776))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (45 publications) (from synonym Asterias ophiura Linnaeus, 1758)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (6 publications) (from synonym Ophiura textura (Linnaeus, 1758))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (8 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (87 publications) (from synonym Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801)
To Dyntaxa
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Ophiura ophiura)
To GenBank (8084 nucleotides; 32 proteins) (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To GenBank (8084 nucleotides; 32 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To PESI
To PESI (from synonym Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801)
To PESI (from synonym Ophiura ciliata (Retzius, 1783) non (O.F. Müller, 1776))
To PESI (from synonym Asterias ophiura Linnaeus, 1758)
To PESI (from synonym Ophioderma lacertosum (Lamarck, 1801))
To PESI (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Echinodermata Collection (1 record) (from synonym Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Echinodermata Collection (37 records) (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Echinodermata Collection (5 records)
To ITIS
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To Barcode of Life (56 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (137 publications) (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (2 publications) (from synonym Ophioderma lacertosum (Lamarck, 1801))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (21 publications) (from synonym Ophiura ciliata (Retzius, 1783) non (O.F. Müller, 1776))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (45 publications) (from synonym Asterias ophiura Linnaeus, 1758)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (6 publications) (from synonym Ophiura textura (Linnaeus, 1758))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (8 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (87 publications) (from synonym Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801)
To Dyntaxa
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Ophiura ophiura)
To GenBank (8084 nucleotides; 32 proteins) (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To GenBank (8084 nucleotides; 32 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To PESI
To PESI (from synonym Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801)
To PESI (from synonym Ophiura ciliata (Retzius, 1783) non (O.F. Müller, 1776))
To PESI (from synonym Asterias ophiura Linnaeus, 1758)
To PESI (from synonym Ophioderma lacertosum (Lamarck, 1801))
To PESI (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Echinodermata Collection (1 record) (from synonym Ophiura lacertosa Lamarck, 1801)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Echinodermata Collection (37 records) (from synonym Ophiura texturata Lamarck, 1816)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Echinodermata Collection (5 records)
To ITIS
