Promachocrinus fragarius, commonly known as the Antarctic strawberry feather star, is a species of stemless, free-swimming crinoid. It was one of several new species of Promachocrinus to be described in 2023.[1] The discovery of the species gained significant media attention.[2][3][4]
| Promachocrinus fragarius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Crinoidea |
| Order: | Comatulida |
| Family: | Antedonidae |
| Genus: | Promachocrinus |
| Species: | P. fragarius
|
| Binomial name | |
| Promachocrinus fragarius McLaughlin, Wilson & Rouse, 2023
| |
Description edit
The team which discovered the species said it was dubbed the 'Antarctic strawberry feather star' due to "the resemblance of its body to a strawberry". Its colour can range from "purple" to "dark-reddish", and it was described as having "ten rays" and "twenty arms".[5]
Distribution and habitat edit
P. fragarius is found in the waters of Antarctica at depths between 65 m (213 ft) and 1,170 m (3,840 ft).[5] The type locality is at the South Sandwich Islands.[6]
The dispersal of Promachocrinus larvae was heavily influenced by Antarctic currents.[7]
References edit
- ^ McLaughlin, Emily L.; Wilson, Nerida G.; Rouse, Greg W. (2023-07-14). "Resolving the taxonomy of the Antarctic feather star species complex Promachocrinus 'kerguelensis' (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)". Invertebrate Systematics. 37 (7): 498–527. doi:10.1071/IS22057. ISSN 1447-2600.
- ^ Solis-Moreira, Jocelyn (2023-08-17). "Behold a 20-armed, strawberry-shaped Antarctic sea creature". Popular Science. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "Scientists Discover 'Strawberry-Like' Invertebrate With 20 Arms". Gizmodo. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ Das, Amrita (2023-08-11). ""Getting Aliens movie vibes": Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star leaves netizens in a frenzy". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ a b Ziafati, Noushin (12 August 2023). "Scientists discover new, 'otherworldly' species with 20 arms in the Antarctic Ocean". CTV News. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ "Promachocrinus fragarius McLaughlin, Wilson & Rouse, 2023". ZooBank. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ McLaughlin, Emily L.; Wilson, Nerida G.; Rouse, Greg W. (2023-07-14). "Resolving the taxonomy of the Antarctic feather star species complex Promachocrinus 'kerguelensis' (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)". Invertebrate Systematics. 37 (7): 498–527. doi:10.1071/IS22057. ISSN 1447-2600.
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