Brittle Star
By: Abby Kowalczyk
Integumentary System
The integumentary system is the outer covering of the body (skin, hair, nails etc..) The integementary system of the Brittle Star includes a thin cuticle, epidermis, and dermis. The dermis is very thick and is made out of connective tissues, it contains an endoskeleton of calcium carbonate that keeps the outer covering durable. The Brittle Star has a radial symmetry, some can be bilateral but most have the strongest tendency to be radial. On the Brittle Star there are five arms that connect to a middle disk. In the Brittle Star, the middle disk is much more prominent than it is in other starfish. There are no ears of nostrils on the Brittle Star but it does have a mouth. The mouth is located at the bottom of the star and it contains five teeth and very strong jaws. The mouth also doubles as the anus to get rid of waste. On each of the five arms of the Brittle Star there are short spins to protect the animal. The Brittle Star spins it's arms to move fast through the water. The Brittle Star is the fastest starfish there is. The color of the Brittle Star is primarily brown but can be blue, grey, and a variety of bright colors.
Bibliogrpahy
"Brittle Star." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star>.
"Brittle Stars." Brittle Stars. AboutFishOnline, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/brittle-stars.html>.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Brittle Star (class of Echinoderms)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/80431/brittle-star>.
"Starfish." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish>.
Skeletal and Muscular System
Bibliography
Works Cited
"Brittle Stars." N.p., Apr.-May 2010. Web. Oct.-Nov. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fbrittlestars.weebly.com%2Fbody-systems.html>.
"Echinodermata." The Muscular System. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <http://gotmuscle.weebly.com/echinodermata.html>.
Parry, Wynne. "Brittle Stars Move Like Humans." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 10 May 2012. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <http://www.livescience.com/20196-brittle-star-movement.html>.
Nervous System
Fun Fact
Bibliography
"Brittle Star." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star>.
"Brittle Star- Enchanted Learning" Col, Jeananda. Enchanted Learning, 2000. http://www.EnchantedLearning.com
The Respiratory System
Bibliography
Works Cited
About Education. "Brittle Stars." About. About, 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://animals.about.com/od/echinoderms/p/brittle-stars.htm>.
"Brittle Star." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star>.
The Circulatory System
Bibliography
"Echinodermata." Circulatory System. Weebly, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://thecircleofblood.weebly.com/echinodermata.html>.
Kern, Angie. "Body Systems." *Brittle Stars*. Weebly, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://brittlestars.weebly.com/body-systems.html>.
Digestion and Excretory System
How a Brittle Star Captures Food
Bibliography
"Brittle Star." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2014. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star>.
Peck. "Digestive." Digestive. Shorecrest, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. <http://w3.shorecrest.org/~Lisa_Peck/MarineBio/syllabus/ch7invertebrates/Invertwp/echino_wp_06/miles/Digestive.htm>.
Reproduction System
Bibliography
Dale, Johnathan. "Starfish Reproduction." Starfish Reproduction. N.p., 10 May 2000. Web. 06 Dec. 2014. <http://www.madreporite.com/science/reproduction.htm>.
Kern, Angie. "Body Systems." *Brittle Stars*. Weebly, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2014. <http://brittlestars.weebly.com/body-systems.html>.