Crinoid

Crinoids from the class Crinoidea are from the phylum Echinodermata, comprising the Echinoderms, also known as feather stars are very common on the reef and come in myriad of colours.

They attach themselves to the reef with claw like feet. They are passive suspension feeders filtering plankton and small particles of detritus from the water using their feather like arms. Quite capable of moving location, often in the evenings we seem them from rock, gorgonian fan or other coral to rock to find a position for feeding. That said a lot of the larger ones seem to remain at the same place !

Of great interest is the different species that live within the “fronds” of the crinoid. We have identified several species of shrimps, squat lobsters (very small), and also clingfish that are commensurate with crinoids, often very hard to see, some patience is needed to carefully observe for movement. Every time we photograph a crinoid we do a detailed review of the photo later to see what is in it, then plan to go back with a macro lens to find the critters again.

This photo is of multiple crinoids on one large Gorgonian Fan at Waterpipe Beach, Havannah Harbour, Vanuatu. Photographed with the Nauticam EMWL system and 110 degree optic.

Photography by John Warmington