Colours
Distinguishing features
Antedonids are small crinoids with have ten very flexible arms up to about 60 mm long. Only two species are known from Lizard Island, Dorometra parvicirra and Dorometra nana.
Dorometra is distinguished from other antedonid genera by having cirrus segments that are flared at their distal ends, overlapping the next segment so they appear like a string of beads (see enlarged photo below). Both species of Dorometra have about 40 delicate cirri. They are distinguished from each other by the relative sizes of the oral pinnules. This character is not useful in the field because it needs microscopic examination.
From the few well-identified specimens for which live colour notes are available, colour appears to be variable within each of the species. D. nana is often brown with white banding or red with white banding. One individual of D. parvicirra was pale grey with the distal half of the cirri bright yellow, while another had cream brachials and chocolate brown pinnules.
Like many other antedonids, the two Dorometra species at Lizard Island swim actively when disturbed. When they stop swimming, they hold their arms above the disk to form a shuttlecock shape and then plummet towards the bottom.
Size
- Up to 10 cm (Length of specimen) - applies to Diameter up to 10 cm
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution and habitat preferences
Antedonids are found throughout the Lizard Island group. They are always fully concealed within the reef or under rubble slabs. Messing (2006) records both species of Dorometra as part of an unusual soft-bottom fauna in 12 to 17 m depth off Osprey Island.
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.