Identification of feather stars (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulida) at Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines
Carmen C. Arguelles*, Reynald M. dela Paz1, and Florencia G. Claveria*
Biology Department, College of Science, De La Salle University,
2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
A taxonomic survey of the feather stars collected from three dive sites, LST Wreck, San Quentin Wreck, and South Reef Canyons Coral Reef at Subic Bay, Zambales during the months of June, July, and October 2007, yielded 15 specimens belonging to four families and eight species. The eight species (order Comatulida) identified and confirmed by Dr. Charles Messing are: Cenometra bella, Capillaster multiradiatus, Comanthus parvicirrus, Comaster nobilis, Comatella nigra, Himerometra robustipinna, Phanogenia gracilis and Stephanometra tenuipinna. This study represents the first proper documentation of crinoid species in three dive sites at Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines.
INTRODUCTION
Feather stars constitute a group of echinoderms belonging to class Crinoidea and order Comatulida, having five to hundreds of arms surrounding their cup-like bodies (Grzimek 2003; Hyman, 1955). Just like their closest relatives, the sea lilies, feather stars are stalked only in the juvenile stage but detach their cup-like bodies in the adult stage to become freely moving or motile crinoids (Grzimek 2003). Feather stars are regarded as primitive echinoderms and today’s living species all belong to the subclass Articulata (Ausich & Messing 1998). . . .
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