Cenometra bella (Beautiful feather star)

Identification

Open feather-like arms with curling tips, occasionally a few arms curling inwards. The disc is variable in color with pinnules of contrasting colors. Pinnules are thick, smooth and tapered at the base of the arms. They are often found clinging to gorgonians.

Status

Unidentified by the IUCN Red list. The species is considered fairly common in the Pacific, but often lacks identification.

Habitat

Western Pacific, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines. They are found at the outer edges of reefs and in gorgonians, in the current. They live in a depth range of 0-55 meters.

Reproduction

Size

Up to 15cm. in diameter,

Prey / Predation

Crinoids are passive suspension feeders, meaning they rely on water current to bring food particles to them for feeding. They cling to gorgonians, coral or rocks at elevated positions and suspend their arms in the water column. As soon as a particle touches an arm, it retracts and curls inward towards the mouth. They feed on algae and small crustaceans. Crinoids themselves are predated by several families of fish, such as snappers, butterflyfish and triggerfish.

Special features

Crinoids are not widely described, therefore they lack correct names or descriptions. There are clues to keep them apart, but that requires close up examination.