Other Names

• Crinoid

General Description

Small crinoids with 10 arms. The mouth (the hole where the food grooves coalesce) is central on the disc and the anal cone is placed to one side. The gonads, which sit like fleshy lateral extensions to the pinnules (secondary branches) start on the third pinnule from the mouth. The first (oral) pinnule is short, consisting of only 6-10 segments. The second is two thirds as long as the first. The cirri are laterally flattened with elongated segments. Colour is light purple or brown, often variegated with white, sometimes with stripes along arms. Arm up to 5 cm long.

Biology

One of the smaller, more cryptic species of crinoids in southern Australia.

Habitat

Rocky reefs and seagrass beds, to depth of 18 m.

Reefs

Seagrass meadows

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Seastars and allies › Feather stars

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

5 cm

Diet

Plankton or Particles

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 1868

Identify

• Feather stars

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Not listed