Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
( Oxycomanthus bennetti )
You can find these species at the depth of 5-25 m on dead or alive corals, resting on slopes or hard substrates.
This feather star can be easily identified due its numerous yellow arms that range from about 31-120 in number! Bennett's feather stars can grow up to the height of 30 cm. These feather stars are known to have a symbiotic relationship or can be found in association with polychete worms who use the stars for shelter, food and protection while the star is not affected negatively at all. So, if you see a worm on a brightly coloured looking feather star: You can be sure that its a Bennett's feather star!
They are filter feeders, they use their numerous arms that resemble fingers to catch particles suspended in the water.
Vardhan Patankar
( Comanthus alternans )
You can find these species at the depth of 0-90 m in areas with high current on rocky and coral reefs.
You can find them usually on gorgonian corals having between 75-125 arms while varying in colour. Like other feather stars, they are usually curled up during the day and have some crustaceans that live amongst its arms.
They usually feed at night by extending their arms which they use to catch various planktonic particles and hence, prefer areas where current is high so that they can filter out particles from the water column.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Colobometra perspinosa )
Found in shallow warm waters, where water flow or current is high.
Growing up to about 30 cm in diameter, the black feather star is distinguishable due to their dark black colour. You can find them resting on corals, mainly the gorgonian corals.
They have usually 10 arms that they stretch out to feed by catching nutrients moving through the water.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Comanthus parvicirrus )
You can usually spot them with their arms extending out of crevices in and around coral reefs.
The common crevice feather star usually has around 10-63 arms growing up to about 20cm in length. They also vary in colour, but they are mostly found with the central stalk yellow in colour and blue hairs or feathers extending out.
They extend their arms which they use to catch various planktonic particles from the water. They usually do this in the night or when there is a high amount of particles present in the water.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Capillster sentosus )
You can find these species at the depth of 0-90 m in areas with high current on rocky and coral reefs.
The thorny feather star, a common occurance in Indian coastal waters have arms growing up to 20 cm in length. They are bushy in appearance and have 40-100 dark red arms with yellow or gold tips.
They extend their arms which they use to catch various planktonic particles from the water. They usually do this in the night or when there is a high amount of particles present in the water.
Vardhan Patankar
( Himerometra robustipinna )
You are able to find them in coastal waters near coral reefs, especially in areas where there is high current at depths between 0-60 m.
Reaching up to a diamater of about 35-40 m, they have between 33 and 62 arms with each arm being about 20 cm long. They have a reddish-maroon overall colour with yellowish-white extentions.
They extend their arms which they use to catch various planktonic particles from the water. They usually do this in the night or when there is a high amount of particles present in the water.