species: Himerometra magnipinna in Lizard Island (Gaia Guide)
Lizard Island > Marine Organisms > Marine Invertebrates > Echinodermata > Feather Stars > Himerometridae > Himerometra magnipinna (gallery)
Himerometra magnipinna


©Marianne Pearce: A common colour pattern of Himerometra magnipinna at Lizard Island .

©David Witherall and Alice Ormston: Himerometra magnipinna

show or add records

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Crinoidea
Order Comatulida
Family Himerometridae
Genus Himerometra
Species Himerometra magnipinna

Show in taxonomy
Show field guides

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

A large crinoid that is usually fully exposed. Adults have 35 to more than 60 arms and a good ring of cirri. A common colour pattern is shown in the photo above. The dark/pale "block" pattern is sometimes absent. Brachials may be black or grey and the pinnules may be black with white or yellow tips. It is often found near H. robustipinna which is always reddish.

Size

  • Up to 35 cm (Length of specimen) - applies to Diameter can reach 35 cm

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Himerometra magnipinna

Distribution and habitat preferences

Perched on hard substrate in areas of high current flow in 3 to 9 m depth.

Found commonly on exposed reef slopes from North Point around the northern, eastern and southern side of the Lizard Island group.

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. (1985). Evolutionary implications of predation on recent comatulid crinoids from the Great Barrier Reef, Paleobiology, 11(2): 154-164. LIRS catalog number 167.
  • Vail, L.L. (1987). Reproduction in five species of crinoids at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Marine Biology, 95: 431-446. LIRS catalog number 222.