::Impact on Habitat::
Brittle stars play a crucial role in their environment as burrowers and as a food source for larger predators, like flatfish. Burrowing stirs up sediment and allows oxygen to mix with it, which is very important to many bottom dwelling species.
::Location/Living Requirements::
Brittle stars are the most common echinoderms found on our shores but are rarely seen as they are more active at night. Often, all that can be seen of a brittle star are its skinny, spiny arms. Ones with longer arms may be seen hiding among coral rubble. Tiny ones shelter under rocks, beneath the sand and in even on other animals such as sponges. Living requirements consist of areas with low-tide levels and living with up to six other families in distribution. Their are some shallow species and these have long arms that can be seen under rocks and other objects.