WHATSTHATFISH
Sea stars & urchins

Beautiful Feather Star

Cenometra bella

Also known as: Crinoid, Feather Star Criniod, Feather Starfish, Gorgonian Feather Star, Sea Lily, Storked Sea Lily

Adult
@fishx6 · Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa, Maldives · August 20061 / 4
01

Overview

Found singly or in colonies, usually clinging to gorgonians. At night they can be found free swimming hunting for food. Varies in colour.

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.

02

How to identify

Body shape
feathers

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found singly or in colonies, usually clinging to gorgonians.

04

Adult photos 4

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumEchinodermata
    3. classCrinoidea
    4. orderComatulida
    5. familyColobometridae
    6. genusCenometra
    7. speciesCenometra bella (Hartlaub, 1890)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Comatulida