Feather Star

Antedon bifida
Feather Star

Habitat: Rocky Reef
Depth: 10-130m
Food: Zooplankton
Length: 12cm across
Lifespan: Unknown
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated (NE)

Primitive relatives of starfish, feather stars often congregate in huge numbers on deep rocky reefs. Feather stars cling onto surfaces using claw-like stalks and raise their ten feathery arms to filter plankton from the sea. Each arm is equipped with tiny tube feet that catch floating food and transport it down the arm, to the central mouth. Feather stars also use their arms for getting about, raising and lowering alternate arms in a graceful swimming motion.

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