Do Brittle Starfish make love?

[scubabr53]

On more that a few occasions I seen my Brittle Starfish twist around each other and stay like this for a wile. I know starfish can reproduce sexually and by dividing. Does anyone know if this is a way they sexually reproduce? I have attached few pictures and hope I did not invaded their privacy. LOL

 

[mckostya]

they are cuddling LOL

 

[georgelc86]

I was gonna say spooning.

 

[stoneriff]

Were you playing any Barry White at the time? :tongue1:

 

[scubabr53]

No Barry White. However one of the Star Gate episodes was on SiFi channel. :inlove:
Seriously does anyone knows if it this is SEX. Maybe I can broadcast this on YouTube? Before I do this I need your input>>>…. Anyone?

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

Hi scubarb53

They can reproduce sexually and assexually, depends on species, environement, etc...

FAQs about Brittlestar Reproduction, Regeneration

Britle star reporduction

Reproduction

The sexes are separate in most species, though a few, e.g., Amphipholis squamata, are hermaphroditic. Gonads, found only in the disc, open into the pouches in the integument between radii, called genital bursae. Gametes are then shed by way of the bursal sacs. An exception is the Ophiocanopidae, which do not open into bursae and are paired in a chain along the basal arm joints. Many species actually brood developing larvae in the bursae. The ophiuroid coelom is strongly reduced, particularly in comparison to other echinoderms. In a few species the female carries a dwarf male, clinging to it. The number of species exhibiting ophiopluteus larvae are fewer than those that diretly develop.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w33841g7l7001713/

Abstract Reproductive cycle, asexual reproduction, and population dynamics of the fissiparous brittle star, Ophiactis savignyi, which inhabits the exhalant passages of the sponge Haliclona sp. were examined monthly from February 1991 to January 1992 at Wanlitung, southern Taiwan (22?N; 120?E). Mature gametes were found from March to December, but release was mainly in May and June. Sexual recruits were found from May to December, with the highest frequency (14.1% of population) in June. Sexual recruits composed 2.4% of the 1-yr sample. Sex ratio of male to female was 24:1. Fission occurred throughout the year, although the frequency of recently split individuals was lower from January to June (6 to 31%), and higher from July to December (42 to 52%). The occurrence of fission was highest after spawning. Regenerating individuals composed 48.2% of the 1-yr sample. Population density fluctuated greatly during summer due to recruitment by fission and mortality or dispersal due to the stressful environmental conditions. Both sexual and asexual reproduction of O. savignyi were successful at this site.

Cheers
Pedro Nuno

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[geldof]

I have two serpent stars that do the same thing. They were on top of each other for the first two weeks I had them.

 

[scubabr53]

I think I seen gemetes released in the water by one of the starfish, at least i think that waht this sleasy sock with tiny dots inside is? Wow, I have witnesed their lovemaking and now this.

 

[scubabr53]

Guess, I am out of luck the sock was sucked in to the filter. Well, at least I got to see the show.