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Family: Comatulidae
Black And White Crinoid
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: On margins and crests of coral reef structures, usually in low-energy situations. Distribution: Western Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Natural History Notes: During the day, N. rubiginosus conceals itself by clinging to reef crevices. At night, some individuals emerge, exposing their tegumen. The arms are used for suspension feeding and protrude about one-half of their length above the substratum. Feeding is continuous, except in the most turbulent conditions, and consists mainly of diatoms. This species has a well-defined, synchronous annual reproductive cycle. Depth: 1-334 m, but most common at 6-15 m. Characteristics: This species usually has 20-40 arms, though very large individuals have more. The arms vary in length from 10 to 37 cm. The mouth is near the disk margin, and three or four pairs of oral pinnules closest to the disk terminate in comb-like structures. The color patterns of this organism vary within and among populations. Most individuals are a uniform bright orange with a black median stripe along the ventral surface of each arm. Other, less-common varieties also occur: (1) arms black, pinnules orange or black with orange tips; (2) arms and pinnules black; (3) arms orange, pinnules orange with yellow or white tips. |
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