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The Secret World of Crinoids

水下世界可能是小小的和脆弱物种的恐怖场所。从字面上和形象上讲,掠食者潜伏在每个角落!许多海洋物种通过以令人难以置信的方式不断发展,使捕食者的“理想”不断发展,从而适应了捕食的不断威胁。

实现这一目标的一种方法是适应鲜艳的颜色和防止掠食者的温和毒素。nudibranchs就是一个很好的例子。第二个适应是在两个不同的物种之间建立共同关系,它们以有益的方式“生活”在一起,通常涉及较小成员的避难所。

我们通常知道生活在宿主海葵的保护性触角内的海葵鱼,但它是另一个提供水下家庭保护的终极的宿主:普通的crinoid。

Crinoid Shrimp

Along with sea stars and urchins, crinoids are a member of the棘皮动物门and are a filter-feeding animal found in cold, as well as tropical, seas throughout the world. They are frequently found perched on rocks and corals in areas prone to current movement in order to capture plankton with their exceedingly sticky appendages.

大多数潜水1zplay员都知道甲壳虫(通常称为羽毛恒星)是附着在任何表面上的五颜六色和上镜礁居民,包括粗心的潜水员的腿。但是,他们不仅仅是眼睛!

Crinoids play host to any number of commensal relationships with a variety of different marine life. Crinoids can have anywhere from a dozen to hundreds of branching arms that are highly flexible and play an important part in gathering food and offering protection to the fragile organs found on the central disc. It’s within these sticky and retractable arms where the majority of crinoid commensals seek shelter.

One of the more spectacular companions is the aptly named squat lobster, from the Allogalathea family, a small crab that lives among the arms of the crinoid. Working as a miniature house cleaner, these crustaceans quite often take on the colors of their host in order to camouflage themselves further from predators.

Crinoid Squat Lobster

During the day, they hide amongst the arms or feet of the crinoid, before boldly walking the surface of the arms at night, picking up tiny morsels of food that have stuck to their host. A second species of crab, commonly known as “crinoid crabs”, are frequent inhabitants of crinoids but are less conspicuous than their larger relative, the squat lobster.

虾也不要被甲壳类动物的表亲淘汰,还与Crinoids建立了共同的关系。可以在这些壮观的棘皮动物中找到几个物种。

尽管不同的物种似乎都被称为“ Crinoid Shrimp”,但在围口中,Laomenes,Brucecaris以及其他几种与Crinoid相关的物种之间的大小和形状存在许多差异。

华丽的幽灵烟熏鱼

Similar to the squat lobsters, these fragile shrimp live within the protective folds of the feather star as a form of shelter, while feeding on microscopic food that sticks to the arms of the host.

甲壳类动物aren’t the only ones that have created a relationship with crinoids; several species of fish also use crinoids as protection. Many juvenile species of cardinal fish, damsels, and anthias hide within the arms or under the feet of crinoids when they feel threatened by potential predators.

The beautiful ornate ghost pipefish is often found trying to blend itself into the arms of a crinoid, as a way of camouflaging itself. There is even a small species of cuttlefish, known simply as the “crinoid cuttlefish” that hides in crinoids and adapts its color to match!

Crinoid on a Sponge

称为Crinoid Home的最独特的鱼是微小但壮观的Crinoid Crinoid Cringfish。这条鱼看起来像是一个卡通人物,带有球形的眼睛,锥形的尾巴和花哨的色彩,生活在红丝盘中,并以浮游生物和小甲壳类动物的附属物中的斑点和小甲壳类动物为食。

Trying to photograph these small fish is a lesson in frustration! They are constantly darting and dipping around their host, hiding amongst the arms.

With so much traffic happening within a crinoid, it’s always a great idea to stop and observe whenever you see one on a dive. For photographers, it’s a definite must to peer inside these colorful and exotic-looking reef inhabitants, due to the multitude of potential photographic opportunities they can provide.


Further Reading

All other Articles by Mike Veitch

A guide to Cleaning Stations

Jumping off the Jetty

Kona的Manta Ray Night潜水1zplay

Red King Crab

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