Millions of Brittlestars

A huge colony of brittlestars (likely Ophiacantha rosea) covers the peak of a seamount in the deep ocean. What’s the attraction? Food! Their arms reach out for tiny food particles carried by the swift Antarctic Circumpolar Current. More about the deep ocean can be found in the Deep Ocean Exploration section.

On a seamount peak, a huge colony of brittlestars (likely Ophiacantha rosea) feeds on passing particles.
NIWA, New Zealand/CenSeam, Census of Marine Life

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