Amphiuridae
{{Short description|Family of brittle stars}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = Jurassic - present J. Roman, G. Breton, and C. Vadon. 1993. Ophiurides et Astéride (Echinodermata) du Tithonien de Canjuers (Var, France). Annales de Paléontologie 79(1):1-18
| image = Amphipholis squamata - 02.jpg
| image_caption = Amphipholis squamata
| taxon = Amphiuridae
| authority = Ljungman, 1867
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = See text
}}
Amphiuridae (commonly called long-armed burrowing brittle starsP.Lambert, Checklist of the Echinoderms of British Columbia (April 2007), Royal British Columbia Museum or burrowing brittle stars) are a large family of brittle stars of the suborder Gnathophiurina. Some species are used to study echinoderm development (e.g. Amphipholis kochiiYamashita, M., Embryonic Development of the Brittle-Star Amphipholis kochii in Laboratory Culture, Biol. Bull. 169: 131-142(Aug., 1985) and Amphioplus abditusHendler, G, Development of Amphioplus abditus (Verrill) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea): I. Larval Biology, Biol.Bull., Vol.152, No.1 (Feb., 1977)) and bioluminescence (the dwarf brittle star, Amphipholis squamataP.Brehm, J.G. Morin. Localization and Characterization of Luminescent Cells in Ophiopsila californica and Amphipholis squamata (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) Biological Bulletin, Vol. 152, No. 1 (Feb., 1977)Dewael Y, Mallefet J., Luminescence in ophiuroids (Echinodermata) does not share a common nervous control in all species, J Exp Biol. 2002 Mar;205).
Characteristics
Amphiuridae are generally small brittlestars. Their jaws are always with two apical papillae at the tip, and one or more papillae on each side.Hendler, G. Ophiuroid Skeleton Ontogeny Reveals Homologies Among Skeletal Plates of Adults: A Study of Amphiura filiformis, Amphiura stimpsonii and Ophiophragmus filograneus (Echinodermata), Biol.Bull. 174:20-29.(Feb.1988)
Systematics and phylogeny
Amphiuridae are the most diverse family of Ophiurida with over 200 species. The family contains the following genera:[http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=123206 MarineSpecies.org - Amphiuridae Ljungman, 1867]
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In addition, two extinct genera are known:[https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=80863 The Paleobiology Database]
- † Deckersamphiura Jagt, 2000
- † Xanthamphiura Hess 1970
Image:Amphiodia pulchella.jpg|Amphiodia pulchella
Image:Amphioplus thrombodes.jpg|Amphioplus thrombodes
Image:Ophiocentrus aspera.jpg|Ophiocentrus aspera
Image:Amphipholis squamata Réunion.jpg|Amphipholis squamata
Ecology
Amphiuridae are found in oceans worldwide from tropics to Arctic and Antarctic regions, with some species living in brackish water.R.L.Turner, Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Low Salinity on the Brackish-water Amphiurid Brittlestar Ophiophragmus filograneus (Lyman, 1875) From the Indian River Lagoon, Florida.Florida Scientist, Vol 70, 4 (Sept.2007) They live mostly by burrowing in the seafloor or hiding under rocks. Most of them are herbivores feeding directly on algae, or detritus feeders, using their long arms to direct organic materials towards their mouths.
Though most amphiurid brittlestars broadcast their eggs and sperm into the sea, many species in this family are "brooders" and carry their young in bursae. One species, Amphiodia akosmos from the Monterey Peninsula of California, was found with up to 11 brooding embryos in one adult (Hendler and Bundrick, 2001).Hendler, G. & Bundrick, C. 2001. A new brooding brittle star from California (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Amphiuridae). Contributions in Science from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 486, pp 1-11
References
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