Bennett's Bushy Feather Star
Anneissia bennetti
Bennett's Bushy Feather Star is a crinoid of Indo-Pacific coral reefs, often perching on corals, sponges, or rubble where currents carry food past its arms. It feeds by spreading its many feathery arms to trap plankton and suspended particles, then moving them toward the mouth along grooves. When disturbed, it can crawl with its cirri or swim short distances by rowing its arms, though it usually relies on clinging and camouflage among reef structure. A notable fact is that feather stars are free-moving relatives of stalked sea lilies, retaining the ancient crinoid body plan without staying permanently attached as adults.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Bennett's Bushy Feather Star