Taxonomy:

specimen requires identification

Kingdom: Animalia 

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Crinoidea

Subclass: Articulata

Order: Comatulida

Family: Comatulidae

Genus:

Species:

A feeding tropical Comatulid feather star. Crinoids belong to the phylum Echinodermata together with sea urchins, starfish, brittle stars and sea cucumbers. The body of a feather star shows pentaradial symmetry, which is one of the key characteristics of echinoderms. Feather stars are benthic animals, and usually cling to hard substrates such as corals and rocks with root-like structures called cirri. They are true nutrition specialists, and require food particles in the nano- and microplankton range (2-20 and 20-200 μm, respectively). These may include (in)vertebrate larvae and protozoa.

Authors:

Jean-Paul ten Klooster & Tim Wijgerde

References:

Macurda, D. B., Jr. and D. L. Meyer. 1983. Sea lilies and feather stars. American Scientist. 71: 354-365

Meyer, D. L. 1982. Food and feeding mechanisms: Crinozoa. In: Jangoux, M., and J. M. Lawrence (Eds.): Echinoderm nutrition. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam. pp. 25-45