brittle star
/ˈbrɪt̬əl stɑr/
noun
- A marine animal with a small central body and five long, thin, flexible arms that can break off easily.
- If a predator grabs a brittle-star's arm, the arm can break off and the animal escapes.
- While snorkeling, I spotted a brittle-star hiding under a coral ledge.
- The brittle-star uses its arms to crawl across the ocean floor.