Colobometra perspinosa (Very spiny feather star)
Feather star with ten, normally straight, feather-like black arms, with widely spaced pinnules. Sometimes the arms show white banding. Pinnules on top of the crinoid are straight and spine-like. They are often found clinging to gorgonians or coral.
Unidentified by the IUCN Red list. They are fairly commonly found in the tropical Pacific, but often lack correct identification.
Throughout the tropical Pacific, attached to gorgonians and corals, in a depth rang of 0-122 meters.
Up to 20cm. in diameter.
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.
Crinoids are not widely described, therefore they often lack correct names or identification. There are clues to keep them apart, but that requires close up examination.
