Ophiura is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Ophiuridae.

Ophiura ophiura or the serpent star is a species of brittle star in the order Ophiurida. It is typically found on coastal seabeds around northwestern Europe.

A large robust brittlestar with relatively inflexible arms. The upper side of Ophiura ophiura is reddish or reddish brown in colour, often with white spots, while the underside (oral side) is white.

Ophiurians are animals of the same family as the starfish, they are also known as sea serpents, this is due to their long and thin arms, which are very flexible and look like small snakes. There are more than 1,200 species of ophiura spread around the world, of different sizes, colorations, each with its own characteristic and peculiarity.