The elegant feather star (Tropiometra carinata) is a species of crinoid in the family Tropiometridae.[1]
| Elegant feather star | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Crinoidea |
| Order: | Comatulida |
| Family: | Tropiometridae |
| Genus: | Tropiometra |
| Species: | T. carinata
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| Binomial name | |
| Tropiometra carinata (Lamarck, 1816)
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Description edit
Elegant feather stars may grow to 20 cm in total length. They are variably coloured in yellow to brown and are occasionally variegated in yellow and brown. They have ten long arms with ciliated side branches that taper to a point. They have 20-30 cirri per arm.[2]
Distribution edit
These animals are found off the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Mozambique as well as circumtropically. They are seen subtidally and down to at least 51m underwater.[2]
Ecology edit
Elegant feather stars are usually found singly on shallow reefs and are more abundant on deeper reefs. If displaced they may swim using their arms. Commensal organisms such as the myzostomid worm Myzostoma fuscomaculatum (shown in main image) and the crinoid shrimp Hippolyte catagrapha are found on the specimens found in False Bay.[2]
Synonyms edit
According to the World Register of Marine Species, the following species are synonyms of Tropiometra carinata:[1]
- Antedon brasiliensis Carpenter, 1879
- Antedon capensis Bell, 1905
- Antedon carinata (Lamarck, 1816)
- Comatula carinata Lamarck, 1816 (basionym)
- Comatula picta Gay, 1854
- Tropiometra audouini AH Clark, 1911
- Tropiometra carinata audouini (AH Clark, 1911)
- Tropiometra carinata carinata (Lamarck, 1816)
- Tropiometra carinata clarki (Gislén, 1938)
- Tropiometra carinata indica (AH Clark, 1912)
- Tropiometra clarki Gislén, 1938
- Tropiometra encrinus AH Clark, 1911
- Tropiometra indica AH Clark, 1912
- Tropiometra picta (Gay, 1854)
References edit
- ^ a b "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Tropiometra carinata (Lamarck, 1816)". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ a b c Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0