brittle star

We saw just now that the brittle-star breaks off its own rays at the slightest alarm.

In fact, they are so ready to do so that it is very difficult indeed to obtain a perfect brittle-star for a museum.

The name brittle-star is also descriptive, since they break off their limbs readily.

Perhaps the Brittle Star has found this dodge useful in escaping from enemies.

Thus, for instance, when a Brittle-star has its nerve-ring severed between each ray, an interesting series of events follows.