Description
Ophiura texturata is a synonym for this brittlestar. On the central disc you can recognize a fine pattern like a mosaic. There are five thin tapered arms attached to the disc, provided with short spines. During daytime it lives buried in the sediment. It can walk, but is not as agile as other brittlestars. Feeds on organic debris and carrion. The disc is covered with a number of plates or scales, that are placed less tight than with with O. albida. The ventral plates have pore-shaped grooves, by which it can be distinguished from other brittlestars. It is interesting to observe that Ophiura ophiura will not live amongst Ophiothrix fragilis, although they live in the same habitat.

Size
The disc is up to 35 mm, and the arms about 120 mm long.

Colour
Textured brown to reddish brown on the top side. The bottom side is beige.

Habitat
From the shallow waters up to a depth of 200 metres.

Distribution
North-east Atlantic from Norway to Madeira and in the Mediterranean.