Swimming crinoid
Analcidometra armata
Pourtales, 1869

Description:
This feather star has ten arms. It is the smallest of the crinoids in the region. The color of the arms and the side arms is red with white bands.
Size: the arms can reach up to 10 cm.

Habitat:
It can be found on the reefs, usually attached to the soft corals and sea plumes. From here, it can by arm movements swim from bush to bush.
Depth: ranges from 15 m down to 40 m.

Distribution:
Occasional to rare all over the Caribbean.

Remarks:
Crinoids are becoming rarer in the region. It is important that crinoids, when encountered, should be left alone, and not be touched. These animals can live for years on the same, for them optimal location, and have limited ways of migrating. They are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature or light. Do not move them to a, for a photographer, better location.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Crinoidea
Genus Analcidometra
Species Analcidometra armata

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Not included in WoRMS database

Scientific synonyms and common names

Swimming crinoid [English]

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

No distribution map was available at OBIS the last time we checked. Retry now.

You can continue searching for Analcidometra armata on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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