What kind of Starfish is This?

[yak]

Not quite an underwater shot, but my son found this small starfish in a tidal pool near Playa Del Carmen, MX. It kept rolling itself over trying to return to the water.

Does anyone know what it is?

 

[Gilligan]

Serpent Star

Even though the common Brittle/Serpent name is applied to these starfish when identifying one group from the other, the basic distinction that sets them apart is that Brittle Stars have spiny arms and Serpents have smooth ones.

 

[yak]

Thanks!

 

[MantaRey]

the basic distinction that sets them apart is that Brittle Stars have spiny arms and Serpents have smooth ones.

Plus when you look at the pattern on the arms it looks like the scutes on a snake.
Very nice photo... what camera is that? because that's some incredible detail!

 

[yak]

Plus when you look at the pattern on the arms it looks like the scutes on a snake.
Very nice photo... what camera is that? because that's some incredible detail!

It was taken with a Canon PowerShot A520 using the macro mode.