Feather star attached to coral
Feather stars make up the class of echinoderms known as crinoidea. Feather stars can have as few as five arms, known as pinnules, or upwards of 200. These creatures differ from starfish in that their pinnules are feather-like while their bodies are cup-shaped. The pinnules of feather stars feature a sticky coating, which they use to catch prey. On the underside of feather stars are appendages known as cirri. Cirri help the feather stars stick to coral reef and sponges. Feather stars are mostly nocturnal. During the day, they hang on rocks with their pinnules curled. Read more : http://www.ehow.com/list_6495584_five-classes-echinoderms.html |