What does comatulid mean?
A comatulid is a type of marine animal known informally as a feather star — a member of the class Crinoidea that has abandoned the stalk anchoring most of its relatives to the sea floor. Its small central disc bears numerous slender, feathery arms lined with tiny tube feet, which it spreads into the water column to snare plankton and other food particles. When disturbed, a comatulid can swim by rhythmically curling and relaxing its arms, a surprising ability for so seemingly plant-like a creature. Comatulids cling to rocks, corals, and sponges on reefs worldwide, favouring areas with gentle currents that deliver food. The word is chiefly encountered in marine biology, palaeontology, and nature writing, where 'feather star' serves as the everyday equivalent.
nounA marine invertebrate of the crinoid family Antedonidae (or more broadly any stalkless feather star), having a small body with feathery, branching arms used for feeding and slow swimming.
- A stalkless crinoid (feather star) of the order Comatulida, with feathery arms used for filter feeding and locomotion.
"The reef wall was draped with comatulids waving their delicate arms in the current."
"Divers watched the comatulid unfurl its ten arms to trap drifting plankton."
"Fossil beds from the Jurassic are rich in comatulid remains."
Standard plural; the singular is used both as a countable noun referring to one individual and generically for members of the group.
"Comatulids gathered along the ledge where the current was strongest."
Despite looking like a plant, a comatulid is an animal — a living fossil lineage over 200 million years old that can actually swim by flapping its feathery arms.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of comatulid
The word derives from New Latin Comatula, the name of a genus of feather stars coined in the 19th century, itself taken from Latin coma ('hair'), reflecting the creature's hair-like arms. The suffix '-id' marks it as a member of a zoological family, Comatulidae. It shares its root with 'comatose', which likewise descends from the same Latin noun for hair.
How comatulid is actually used
A technical term used mainly in marine biology, palaeontology, and natural-history writing; general audiences usually say 'feather star' instead.
Easily confused with comatulid
Crinoid refers to the entire class including stalked sea lilies, whereas a comatulid is specifically the stalkless, free-moving feather-star form.