Himerometra robustipinna
Magic Feather Star
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Crinoidea
Order
Comatulida
Family
Himerometridae
Genus
Himerometra
Species
Himerometra robustipinna
Colours
Distinguishing features
A middling-to-large crinoid that is always fully exposed, with up to 56 arms and a good ring of stout cirri. This is one of the most conspicuous crinoids at Lizard Island.
The colour is distinctive. The arms of many individuals are completely maroon as shown in the photo above. Others have yellow/orange or pale brown brachials with maroon pinnules which may have yellowish tips.
Size
- Up to 35 cm (Length of specimen) - applies to Diameter up to 35 cm
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Himerometra robustipinna usually perches on living hard coral in areas of moderate to high water movement. They are often found in aggregations.
This species is very common at sites with strong current flow such as North Point, the lagoon entrance and the reef slope between Brid and South Islands.
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.
- Meyer, D.L. (1979). Length and spacing of the tube feet in crinoids (Echinodermata) and their role in suspension-feeding, Marine Biology, 51: 361-369. LIRS catalog number 29.
- Meyer, D.L. (1985). Evolutionary implications of predation on recent comatulid crinoids from the Great Barrier Reef, Paleobiology, 11(2): 154-164. LIRS catalog number 167.
- View all references