brittle star
noun
: any of a class or subclass (Ophiuroidea) of echinoderms that have slender flexible arms distinct from the central disk
Examples of brittle star in a Sentence
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One young explorer lifted a delicate brittle star briefly from the water to the joyful oohs and aahs of curious onlookers.
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Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025
The researchers’ analysis showed that the brittle stars that were collected from the deep sea shared more DNA across regions than the brittle stars that were collected from the shallows.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2025
See the new species Off the coast of Taiwan, a new species of brittle star, Breviturma securis, was discovered.
—Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Enlarge / The brooding brittle star (Amphipholis squamata) was likely the result of multiple hybridization events.
—Richard Pallardy, Ars Technica, 30 July 2024
Environmental scientists worry that harvesting nodules will send up plumes of sediment into the water and kill anything living on the seafloor, such as brittle stars and bizarre sea cucumber species like the one known as the gummy squirrel.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
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Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025
The researchers’ analysis showed that the brittle stars that were collected from the deep sea shared more DNA across regions than the brittle stars that were collected from the shallows.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2025
See the new species Off the coast of Taiwan, a new species of brittle star, Breviturma securis, was discovered.
—Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Enlarge / The brooding brittle star (Amphipholis squamata) was likely the result of multiple hybridization events.
—Richard Pallardy, Ars Technica, 30 July 2024
Environmental scientists worry that harvesting nodules will send up plumes of sediment into the water and kill anything living on the seafloor, such as brittle stars and bizarre sea cucumber species like the one known as the gummy squirrel.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Brittle star.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brittle%20star. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
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