Brittle star

Brittle stars or ophiuroids are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea closely related to starfish. They crawl across the seafloor using their flexible arms for locomotion. The ophiuroids generally have five long slender, whip-like arms which may reach up to 60 centimetres (24 in) in length on the largest specimens. They are also known as serpent stars.

Ophiuroidea contains two large clades, Ophiurida (brittle stars) and Euryalida (basket stars). Many of the ophiuroids are rarely encountered in the relatively shallow depths normally visited by humans, but they are a diverse group.

There are some 1,500 species of brittle stars living today, and they are largely found in deep waters more than 500 metres (1,650 feet) down.

Marbled Hatchetfish [Carnegiella strigata]

The Marbled Hatchetfish, Carnegiella strigata, is a small, normally 35 mm in length, freshwater ray-finned fish native to South America. Hatchet shaped, it presents a gold line extending from its eye to its caudal fin while the area below has a brown and cream colored marble-like pattern (hence its name). It can 'fly' above the surface of the water by flapping its pectoral fins (unlike the actual Flying Fish, this species has a chest strong enough for allowing him primitive flight and not just soaring. Usually, these flights are no more than short trips above the surface, but they can be a few meters high. It is not sure if it is actually able to catch flying insects.)