Dr. Bernhard Picton, Großbritannien
Info
Leptometra celtica was previously considered a deep-sea feather star species until it was recently discovered in protected areas and sea arms at a depth of only 20 meters, e.g., in Scotland.
The 10 arms of this pretty feather star, which are neatly arranged with side branches, reach a length of between 7 and 10 cm and can be striped red and white or solid brown, white, or red.
As with starfish, the arms are connected to a central body disc. Below the central disc, feather stars have slender, pure white, hair-like legs with 40–50 joints each, which are used for crawling or clinging to the substrate.
Feather stars spread their arms like a vertical fan to capture food from the passing water. In areas with moderate currents, specimens have been observed spreading their arms into a vertical fan in the direction of the current.
Leptometra celtica also occurs on the shelf edge and in the foothills of deep underwater canyons, where faster currents in conjunction with the canyon systems provide a favorable habitat for suspension-feeding organisms such as crinoids.
Synonyme:
Antedon celtica (M'Andrew & Barrett, 1857) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comatula celtica M'Andrew & Barrett, 1857 · unaccepted (basionym (replacement name for...)
Comatula woodwardii Barrett, 1857 (not of Forbes, 1852) · unaccepted (synonym)
Leptometra phalangium (Carpenter, 1881) non (Müller, 1841) · unaccepted (synonym)
The 10 arms of this pretty feather star, which are neatly arranged with side branches, reach a length of between 7 and 10 cm and can be striped red and white or solid brown, white, or red.
As with starfish, the arms are connected to a central body disc. Below the central disc, feather stars have slender, pure white, hair-like legs with 40–50 joints each, which are used for crawling or clinging to the substrate.
Feather stars spread their arms like a vertical fan to capture food from the passing water. In areas with moderate currents, specimens have been observed spreading their arms into a vertical fan in the direction of the current.
Leptometra celtica also occurs on the shelf edge and in the foothills of deep underwater canyons, where faster currents in conjunction with the canyon systems provide a favorable habitat for suspension-feeding organisms such as crinoids.
Synonyme:
Antedon celtica (M'Andrew & Barrett, 1857) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comatula celtica M'Andrew & Barrett, 1857 · unaccepted (basionym (replacement name for...)
Comatula woodwardii Barrett, 1857 (not of Forbes, 1852) · unaccepted (synonym)
Leptometra phalangium (Carpenter, 1881) non (Müller, 1841) · unaccepted (synonym)
