Davidaster rubiginosus
Davidaster rubiginosus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Crinoidea |
Order: | Comatulida |
Family: | Comatulidae |
Genus: | Davidaster |
Species: | D. rubiginosus
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Binomial name | |
Davidaster rubiginosus | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Davidaster rubiginosus, the orange sea lily, is a species of crinoid in the family Comatulidae. At one time it was classified as Nemaster rubiginosa but the World Register of Marine Species has determined that the valid name is Davidaster rubiginosus.[1] It is found on reefs in the tropical western Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
Description
The orange sea lily is a stalkless crinoid. It has twenty to thirty five arms 10 to 20 centimetres (3.9 to 7.9 in) long radiating from the calyx, a cup-like body with a lid, the tegmen. Each arm is feather-like and has many pinnules projecting alternately from one side and the other. These have an
Distribution and habitat
The orange sea lily is found on reefs at depths of between 10 and 30 metres (33 and 98 ft). Its range includes Florida, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas southwards to the coast of Brazil. In the daytime it usually keeps its body hidden in a crevice, under
Reproduction
In a study in Jamaica, it was found that, unlike many tropical crinoids, the orange sea lily has a regular annual breeding cycle involving the release into the sea of gametes in the late autumn and winter.[5] After fertilisation the eggs hatch into barrel-shaped vitellaria larva with several rings of cilia. These do not feed and after a few days settle on the seabed and undergo metamorphosis into juvenile sea lilies.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Messing, Charles (2010). "Davidaster rubiginosus (Pourtalès, 1869)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ^ ISBN 0-86622-875-6.
- ISBN 0-86622-141-7.
- ^ Ehrengruber, Fabio. "Golden crinoid: Nemaster rubiginosa". Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- .
- ISBN 0-03-030504-7.