Video courtesy of Pim van Schendel and Viralhog.com.
Our Video of the Week is of a rare swimming Feather Star shot by Pim van Schendel in Manado Bay, Indonesia. Pim is the Dive Operations Manager at PADI Five Star Dive Resort, Murex Dive.
Part of the starfish family, Crinoids are marine creatures characterised by feathered-looking ‘feeding arms’, tentacles which are covered with a sticky mucus that traps any plankton or decaying organic matter that floats past. Feather Stars, like the Crinoid in the above video, can be identified by their lack of stalk, also known as cirri, which anchors them to the sea bottom. Crinoids which do have cirri are known as Sea Lilies.
Most Crinoids have approximately 20 arms, however some species can have upwards of 200. There are approximately 600 species of Crinoid that are still in existence today, of which an estimated 520 are Feather Stars. They can live up to 6,000 metres/20,000 feet below the surface and scientists have found Crinoid fossils dating back 450 million years.
If you’re interested in other interesting critters Murex Dive Resorts have come across in the waters off North Sulawesi, check out their Facebook page and YouTube channel.
If you’re interested in diving Indonesia, visit our Vacation Spotlight to learn more.