Oxycomanthus exilis
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Crinoidea
Order
Comatulida
Family
Comatulidae
Genus
Oxycomanthus
Species
Oxycomanthus exilis
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. All Oxycomanthus species have oral pinnules that end in a sharp point but this character is not useful in the field.
Oxycomanthus exilis is a small, delicate crinoid with up to 20 slender arms and a few weak cirri. Brachials and pinnules are quite spiny.
It is common on lagoon patch reefs and on the reef flat where it usually has a few arms exposed to the water column during the day.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
- Rowe, F.W.E., A.K. Hoggett, R.A. Birtles and L.L. Vail (1986). Revision of some comasterid general from Australia (Echinodermata: Crinoidea), with descriptions of two new genera and nine new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 86: 197-277. LIRS catalog number 198.
- Vail, L.L. (1987). Diel patterns of emergence of crinoids (Echinodermata) from with a reef at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Marine Biology, 93: 551-560. LIRS catalog number 218.
- 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.