The Crinoid, Encrinite (Sea Lily) was exclusively a marine animal. Although resembling a flower head [Crown], hence the commonly used nomenclatures sea lily, flower of the sea etc, it is a member of the Phylum Echinodermata. The Crinoidea comprise of one of the Classes of the Subphylum, Pelmatozoa or attached forms (in contrast to the Eleutherozoa, the free and vagrant forms of which the starfish and sea-urchins belong).
Crinoids are typically characterised by their pentameral radial symmetry. The three main parts of the Crinoid are;
The Arms;
Composed of an articulated series of ossicles [Pinnule], that are used in suspension feeding and respiration. The gonads are also located in the arms; fertilisation takes place in open sea water during mass spawning
The Calyx;
[Crown or Aboral cup], This contains the vital organs of the animal. It is small when compared to the total mass, most of which is devoted to food collection. The mouth and anus are located on the upper surface of the body, and are connected by a simple gut.
The Stem;
[stalk or columnal stem],This supports the animal and together with the roots[holdfast] and cirri served as a means of attachment to the sea bed or other useful substrate such as logs
Genus
Scyphocrinites Elegans Crinoid sp.
Other Nomenclature
Sea Lilly, Feather Star, Crinoid