Скачать или смотреть Basket stars are a type of brittle star known for their intricate, branched arms

Basket stars are a type of brittle star known for their intricate, branched arms that resemble a basket or net, hence the name. They are found in deep-sea habitats and use their arms to capture small drifting animals and plankton. 

Key characteristics of basket stars:

Branched Arms:

Their most distinctive feature is their multiple, repeatedly branching arms that create a net-like structure for catching prey. 

Deep-Sea Dwellers:

They typically inhabit deep ocean waters, often on seamounts or rocky areas, and are rarely found in shallow waters. 

Mobile:

Basket stars are known for their mobility, using their arms to move along the seafloor and anchor themselves on various structures. 

Feeding:

They extend their arms to form a net and trap small crustaceans, zooplankton, and other drifting organisms. 

Echinoderms:

Basket stars belong to the class Ophiuroidea, a group of echinoderms that also includes brittle stars. 

Water Vascular System:

Like other echinoderms, they lack blood and rely on their water vascular system for gas exchange. 

This video shows a basket star extending its branched arms to capture food: