There are many species of brittle stars and one common species of basket star Gorgonocephalus eucnemis on the west coast of North America. Gorgonocephalus lives at deeper depths in southern Oregon and California than in northern locations from Washington to Alaska.  In the southern parts of British Columbia basket stars can be seen at 10 - 15m depth. The descriptor "basket" refers to their behaviour of pulling their arborescent arms into a tight bundle, giving the appearance of a woven basket. This happens when disturbed and or, for many or most world species, during the daytime, for at other times the arms are spread wide for feeding.

NOTE so named because of their propensity to drop arms when disturbed or under duress