The feather star is a type of crinoid, a marine invertebrate that shares the same phylum (Echinodermata) as starfish, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, urchins, and brittle stars. Though they often perch on sponges, coral, and other substrata, feather stars can crawl and swim. Some species have over 150 arms, and if they lose one to a predator, they can regenerate the severed limb over time.
Crinoidea is a truly ancient class: their fossil record stretches back to the Ordovician period, almost 250 million years before dinosaurs walked the earth. As such, the modern feather star is a glimpse into the earth's ancient past. Though crinoids are harmless to humans and are actually an indicator of a healthy ocean ecosystem, their five-fold symmetry and grasping appendages give them an unearthly elegance. In fact, the Aliens franchise was inspired by crinoids!
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