How do Ophiuroidea eat?

Answer 1

Ophiuroids are carnivores, filter feeders, and scavengers; those of some species use more then one method to obtain food. Mucus on the tube feet can trap phytoplankton, bacteria, and even medusae from the water or particles from sediment that are moved by the tube feet to the mouth; some ophiuroids capture small crustaceans or worms by looping the organisms with their rays. The mouth is surrounded by five jaws and leads to an esophagus that connects to the sac-like stomach. The stomach fills much of the disc, but does not extend into the arms, and ends blindly (that is, it has no anus). Digestion occurs within 10 pouches or infolds of the stomach.

Answer 2

Ophiuroidea, commonly known as brittle stars, feed by extending their arms to capture food particles such as zooplankton and detritus. They use their tube feet to move food to their central mouth located on the underside of their body. Some species are also known to scavenge on dead organisms or use suspension feeding to filter food from the water.