- · Grid units represent actual meters (m); human and animals are drawn to the exact same scale with original silhouette aspect ratios preserved.
- · When a size range is recorded (e.g. 1–1.6m), the lower bound is used for scale comparison.
- · Ophiacantha linea: Drawn using our own body-shape diagram where an open-licensed silhouette was unavailable.
- · Human silhouette: PhyloPic — NASA · Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ophiacantha linea
Ophiacantha linea (Ophiacantha linea · Ophiacantha linea)
Not Evaluated (NE) on the IUCN Red List yet.
🇰🇷 Class II endangered wildlife (Korea)
💡 Everyday Comparisons for Size, Mass & Speed
- 💡 Its maximum arm length of 22.5 mm is slightly smaller than the diameter of a Korean 100-won coin (about 24 mm) (Comparison).
- 💡 Because it lives in rock, seaweed, and coral communities at depths of 50–100 m in Jeju waters (National Institute of Ecology), it is part of the underwater scenery seen on trips to Jeju.
Reference standards: coach bus ~12 m, mid-size car ~4.9 m, compact car ~1 t, basketball hoop 3.05 m, credit card 8.56 cm.
📖 1. Overview
Ophiacantha linea is a small brittle star endemic to Korea, known only from the waters of Jeju Island.
🦴 2. Anatomy & Morphology
It is a small species with a clear boundary between the central disc and the arms, with a disc diameter of 3.8–6.8 mm and an arm length of 13.2–22.5 mm. The disc is covered with transparent spines that branch into several prongs at the tip, and the spines at the ends of the arm segments reach 4 times the length of an arm segment.
🔍 3. Ecology & Behavior
It feeds on small benthic animals and plankton. Swimming larvae undergo several metamorphoses before becoming adults.
🇰🇷 4. Connection to Korea
It is a Class II endangered wildlife (Korea) species endemic to Korea and distributed only in the waters of Jeju Island. Its limited habitat area is the main threat factor.
📚 Sources & References
- • 멸종위기 야생생물 Ⅱ급 — 국가생물종목록(국립생물자원관) ktsn 120000050651 — https://species.nibr.go.kr/home/mainHome.do?cont_link=009&subMenu=009002&contCd=009002&ktsn=120000050651
- • IUCN Red List: not evaluated (NE) — cross-checked with the Wikidata conservation-status entry
- • Korean protection status: Class II endangered wildlife (Korea)
- • marinespecies.org — aphia.php
- • 국가생물종목록(국립생물자원관) ktsn 120000050651 — https://species.nibr.go.kr/home/mainHome.do?cont_link=009&subMenu=009002&contCd=009002&ktsn=120000050651
- • wikidata.org — Q2365455
- • nie.re.kr — view.do
Recorded dimensions are widely cited representative estimates from public literature and may vary by study or specimen.