brittlestar vs Common flying squid

Amphiura filiformis compared with Todarodes pacificus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	brittlestar	Common flying squid
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Echinodermata (Echinoderms)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Ophiuroidea (Ophiuroidea)	Cephalopoda (Cephalopods)
Order	Amphilepidida (Amphilepidida)	Oegopsida (Oegopsida)
Family	Amphiuridae	Ommastrephidae
Genus	Amphiura	Todarodes
Species	Amphiura filiformis	Todarodes pacificus

Evolutionary Relationship

brittlestar and Common flying squid share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

brittlestar

LC — Least Concern

Common flying squid

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	brittlestar	Common flying squid
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

brittlestar

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Common flying squid

Habitat

Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Taiwan.

brittlestar

The Brittlestar (Amphiura filiformis) is a species in the genus Amphiura. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Common flying squid

<em>Todarodes pacificus</em> is a cephalopod mollusk in the family Ommastrephidae, order Oegopsida, commonly known as the Japanese flying squid or common flying squid. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. <em>Todarodes pacificus</em> is native to Asian waters, with documented occurrences including Taiwan, and is widely distributed across the northwestern Pacific Ocean. This species is one of the most commercially important squid species in the world, supporting major fisheries in Japan, China, and South Korea. It typically inhabits open ocean environments from the surface to mesopelagic depths, undertaking extensive diel vertical migrations. The common name refers to the ability of this species to leap from the water and briefly glide through the air, propelled by jets of water and using its fins and outstretched tentacles for lift — a behavior observed in several ommastrephid squids. Populations exhibit distinct migratory patterns linked to oceanographic conditions and spawning cycles. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.