Phanogenia multibrachiata
©Anne: Phanogenia multibrachiata at High Rock near Lizard Island. This is not its normal living position - it has been moved from and underhang into the open.
©Anne: Underside of Phanogenia multibrachiata at High Rock near Lizard Island, showing numerous arms and strong ring of cirri .
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Crinoidea
Order
Comatulida
Family
Comatulidae
Genus
Phanogenia
Species
Phanogenia multibrachiata
Colours
Distinguishing features
Comasterids are distinguised from all other featherstar families by having terminal segments of the oral pinnules modified to form a comb. Comasterids a also have a distinctive "feel" due to well developed hooks on most pinnules that cause them to cling like velcro.
Adults have more than 100 extremely fine arms and a good ring of cirri. This species and its congener, P. multifudus, are the most delicate and "clingy" of the comasterids. Even a gentle brush against the arm tips will result in the arm tips breaking and sticking to whatever brushed against them.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
Distribution and habitat preferences
It lives with its central body concealed within the reef and a bush of arms exposed.
Web resources
References
- Clark, A.M. and F.W.E. Rowe (1971). Monograph of shallow-water Indo-west Pacific echinoderms British Museum (Natural History), London.
- Summers, M. M., C.G. Messing and G.W. Rouse (2014). Phylogeny of Comatulidae (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulida): A new classification and an assessment of morphological characters for crinoid taxonomy, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 80: 319-339. LIRS catalog number 1813.