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.