Description
Also known as Crinoid Feather Star, Feather Starfish, Sea Lily, Storked Sea Lily.
Found singly or in groups, during the day anchored under dead and live corals and rubble, crawling out nocturnally to high coral, rocky ledges, and outcrops, over current swept areas close to the reef. They can also be found nocturnally swimming freely feeding.
They feed on detritus and zooplankton.
Length - 25cm
Depth - 0-70m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific
Feather stars are usually found curled up during the day, but at night they extend their feathery arms to catch plankton in the currents.
They float, crawl, roll, walk or even swim through the current to different locations.
Some small animals like clingfish and crustaceans can be found in the arms of feathers stars.
Feather stars have both their mouth and anus on the upper surface.
Very much like sea stars if their arms are damaged they can regenerate at will. Ref: https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Stephanometra-indica.html
1 comment
Posted by MewstoneDoes Stephanometra indica come in a variety of colours in the stripes? Is it always striped. Images on other websites seem to suggest it might be black and white/grey, too. The stripes also seem to vary from equal sized and small to uneven and large.