noun
brittle star; brittlestar
General term for any member of the echinoderm order Ophiuroidea, resembling starfish with long, flexible arms.
磯でクモヒトデを見つけた。
I found a brittle star on the rocky shore.
noun
Ophioplocus japonicus
Specific species of brittle star found in Japanese waters; scientific name Ophioplocus japonicus.
このクモヒトデは Ophioplocus japonicus という種類です。
This brittle star is the species Ophioplocus japonicus.
ヒトデ is a starfish (class Asteroidea), while クモヒトデ is a brittle star (class Ophiuroidea), a related but distinct group with thinner, more flexible arms.
Compound of 蜘蛛 (くも, spider) and 人手 (ひとで, starfish, literally 'human hand'), referring to the spider-like appearance of the long, slender arms.