Brittle stars: Amphiura filiformis

A. filiformis is a small brittle star that lives in soft bottom sediment. These brittle stars burrow down into the sediment and extends their arms into the water column to collect food particles. The extended arms may get eaten by predatory fish or damaged by physical factors. The arms then easily break off but can be regenerated by the animal. The new arms develop fully with a new functional nerve system.