Promachocrinus fragarius

Promachocrinus fragarius
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Crinoidea
Order:	Comatulida
Family:	Antedonidae
Genus:	Promachocrinus
Species:	P. fragarius
Binomial name
Promachocrinus fragarius McLaughlin, Wilson & Rouse, 2023

Promachocrinus fragarius, commonly known as the Antarctic strawberry feather star, is a species of stemless, free-swimming crinoid. It was one of several new species of Promachocrinus to be described in 2023.[1] The discovery of the species gained significant media attention.[2][3][4]

Description

The team which discovered the species said it was dubbed the 'Antarctic strawberry feather star' due to "the resemblance of its body to a strawberry". Its colour can range from "purple" to "dark-reddish", and it was described as having "ten rays" and "twenty arms".[5]

Distribution and habitat

P. fragarius is found in the waters of Antarctica at depths between 65 m (213 ft) and 1,170 m (3,840 ft).[5] The type locality is at the South Sandwich Islands.[6]

The dispersal of Promachocrinus larvae was heavily influenced by Antarctic currents.[7]

References

1. McLaughlin, Emily L.; Wilson, Nerida G.; Rouse, Greg W. (2023-07-14). "Resolving the taxonomy of the Antarctic feather star species complex Promachocrinus 'kerguelensis' (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)". Invertebrate Systematics. 37 (7): 498–527. doi:10.1071/IS22057. ISSN 1447-2600.
2. Solis-Moreira, Jocelyn (2023-08-17). "Behold a 20-armed, strawberry-shaped Antarctic sea creature". Popular Science. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
3. "Scientists Discover 'Strawberry-Like' Invertebrate With 20 Arms". Gizmodo. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
4. Das, Amrita (2023-08-11). ""Getting Aliens movie vibes": Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star leaves netizens in a frenzy". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
5. Ziafati, Noushin (12 August 2023). "Scientists discover new, 'otherworldly' species with 20 arms in the Antarctic Ocean". CTV News. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
6. "Promachocrinus fragarius McLaughlin, Wilson & Rouse, 2023". ZooBank. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
7. McLaughlin, Emily L.; Wilson, Nerida G.; Rouse, Greg W. (2023-07-14). "Resolving the taxonomy of the Antarctic feather star species complex Promachocrinus 'kerguelensis' (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)". Invertebrate Systematics. 37 (7): 498–527. doi:10.1071/IS22057. ISSN 1447-2600.