Critter ID help

[Trisha]

Found this little critter on my live rock. Can anyone ID it for me??
Thanks!!

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

It's very difficult to tell in that picture. It almost looks like a Red Brittle Star curled up. Can you get a few more pictures of it?

 

[Trisha]

Here is another picture of it. It is black with orange tipped tentacles. It is approx. 1 1/2" across and looks like a starfish with stumps for legs. It isn't curled up, it's just very short.

 

[LeslieH]

It's a brittle star with all the legs broken off close to the central disk. The second image shows the underside & the mouth very clearly. The breaks are clean so it looks like handling damage or something was trying to eat it. Brittle stars will deliberately cast off their arms to escape from predators then find a safe place to sit & regrow them.

 

[Trisha]

Thank you! I don't know how it will fare. It looks like it has had a rough past, but I will hope for the best.

 

[kmk2307]

Feeding it lots and keeping it free of stress will help it recover.

Kevin