WHATSTHATFISH
Sea stars & urchins

Legless Feather Star

Clarkcomanthus alternans

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

Adult
@blogie · Coral Gardens, Talicud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · November 20111 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly or in groups, during the day anchored to gorgonians, high on coral outcrops and ledges, in current prone areas, of coral and rocky reefs. Swimming freely at night hunting for food. This feather star has between 75-125 arms and is highly variable in colour.
They feed nocturnally on zooplankton.

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-West Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly or in groups, during the day anchored to gorgonians, high on coral outcrops and ledges, in current prone areas, of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumEchinodermata
    3. classCrinoidea
    4. orderComatulida
    5. familyComatulidae
    6. genusClarkcomanthus
    7. speciesClarkcomanthus alternans (Carpenter, 1881)

    SourcesWoRMS

    06

    More in the family

    Comatulida