noun
- marine animals related to starfish, characterized by a central disc and five long, slender, flexible arms; brittle stars
Usage: zoological term
Examples
- Ophiuroids are commonly found hiding under rocks in tide pools.
- The marine biologist collected several ophiuroids for her research on echinoderm behavior.
- Unlike sea stars, ophiuroids have distinctly separate arms that can break off easily.
- The aquarium’s touch tank featured various echinoderms, including colorful ophiuroids.
- Ophiuroids use their flexible arms to move across the ocean floor and capture food.
- Students examined preserved ophiuroids to learn about their unique skeletal structure.