WHATSTHATFISH
Sea stars & urchins

Bennett's Feather Star

Anneissia bennetti

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

Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 11
01

Overview

Found singly or in groups, on high coral outcrops and ledges, with exposed dead and live corals, in current prone areas of the reef. At night, free swimming hunting for their planktonic food.
They feed nocturnally on plankton.

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
bushfeathers

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 11
LIVES IN

Found singly or in groups, on high coral outcrops and ledges, with exposed dead and live corals, in current prone areas of the reef.

04

Adult photos 11

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. familyComatulidae
    6. genusAnneissia
    7. speciesAnneissia bennetti (Müller, 1841)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Comatulida