About Ophiocoma erinaceus Müller & Troschel, 1842
Ophiocoma erinaceus is a species of brittle star that is black in color and has red tube feet. On its arm segments, one segment bears three arm spines, while the adjacent segment bears four; this order reverses with the next segment along the arm. In Hawaii, this species is the largest brittle star. Its arms can reach up to 5 ½ inches in length, and its central disk can be around 1 inch in diameter. Ophiocoma erinaceus is distributed across the Indo-Pacific oceans, and it typically lives under rocks and stones. Saponins and antioxidants produced by Ophiocoma erinaceus are of research interest for medical studies. Extracted saponin from this species has been observed to reduce and inhibit the growth of HeLa human cervical cancer cells.
