Sea star or brittle star jelly fish hitchhikers?

[Nick Hope 151]

Shot in the Mergui Archipelogo, Burma, Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean.

 

Are these little hitchhikers sea stars (Asteroidea) or brittle stars (Ophiuroidea)?

 

http://stockfootage.bubblevision.com/video_clips/NH05_1298

[Leslie 0]

Hi Nick - they look like brittle stars to me.

 

I'd love to know if the pelagic larva settled on the jelly & stayed there or if the jelly got too close to the bottom & they climbed on. I suspect it's the first option.

 

Cheers, Leslie

[Nick Hope 151]

Thanks Leslie. Looks like there are at least 4 on there so I suppose they must have settled pretty quickly. Or do pelagic larvae tend to stick together?