Ophiocoma erinaceus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Ophiuroidea |
Order: | Ophiacanthida |
Family: | Ophiocomidae |
Genus: | Ophiocoma |
Species: | O. erinaceus
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Binomial name | |
Ophiocoma erinaceus Müller & Troschel, 1842
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Ophiocoma erinaceus is an echinoderm, more specifically a brittle star of the Ophiocomidae family.[1]
Ophiocoma erinaceus is black with red tube feet.[1][2] On the arm segments, there are three arm spines on one segment while the other has four. The next segment occurs in reverse order.[3] In Hawaii, it is the largest brittle star, with sizes of the arms going up to 5 ½ inches, and the disk can be about 1 inch in diameter.[1]
Ophiocoma erinaceus is distributed within the Indo-Pacific oceans and can be found under rocks and stones.[1]
The saponin and antioxidants Ophiocoma erinaceus produces is the subject of interest to researchers as it has been studied for medical research.[4] It has been observed that the saponin extracted from Ophiocoma erinaceus can decrease and inhibit the growth of HeLa human cervix cancer cells.[4]