Ruby Brittle Star

Ruby Brittle Star, Spawning

Spawning is the process of releasing eggs, sperm, or larvae into the environment as part of reproduction.

The Ruby Brittle Star has a central disc that is usually reddish with mixed shades of black, gray, or brown. The surface is covered with rounded granules, giving it a fine, rough texture. Its long, slender arms are striped with bands of red and white and have small, spike-like spines along the sides. It displays a wide array of colors and patterns, so individuals can look quite different from one another. Some individuals in the photos have 10 circles on the edge of the disc, a feature unique to the Circle-Marked Brittle Star; however, these individuals are still believed to be Ruby Brittle Stars.

The Ruby Brittle Star is cautious and hides during the day inside sponges, under coral or rubble, and emerges at night to feed. It eats small creatures like tiny worms, crustaceans, and mollusks. At coral spawning, it climbs onto the coral and captures egg and sperm bundles, catching them by coiling an arm and bringing them to the mouth.