Scientists on a research vessel near Antarctica have discovered a new creature with 20 arms.
The new organism was identified when the research team deployed nets in the Southern Ocean to search for a group of enigmatic marine animals known as Promachocrinus, commonly referred to as Antarctic feather stars (a type of sea lily).
Close-up of the central body of the Antarctic feather star – (Photo: MIAMI HERALD).
This species is considered “large” and can inhabit depths ranging from about 20 meters to approximately 2 kilometers underwater, exhibiting a “strange appearance” while swimming. Specifically, the arms of this organism are described as moving like a dancer underwater. This rhythmic movement has captivated marine biologists.
Although they are both marine invertebrates, feather stars differ significantly from the more well-known starfish.
During the survey, researchers collected 8 feather stars with distinctive body shapes, leading to the identification of a new species: Promachocrinus fragarius, also known as the Antarctic strawberry feather star, according to the Miami Herald.
The close-up image above shows the lower body of the Antarctic strawberry feather star. It has a nearly triangular shape, wider at the top and tapering to a rounded base. According to biologist Angela Stevenson from the University of British Columbia, the ability to regenerate limbs may be a reason this species has survived for over 200 million years.
A preserved Antarctic strawberry feather star – (Photo: MIAMI HERALD).
The study, published in the journal Invertebrate Systematics, states that the Antarctic strawberry feather star has 20 arms branching from its body center “like a strawberry.” It can display various colors ranging from purple to dark red.
The star has two types of appendages. Its shorter, lower arms appear almost striped and rugged, while the longer upper arms are feathery and soft.
However, researchers did not provide measurements of the overall size of the creature.
Based on the body shape and DNA analysis, they confirmed that this is a completely new species.
Many news outlets immediately noted that the appearance of the Antarctic strawberry feather star closely resembles that of the Facehugger, the alien creature first introduced in the 1979 film Alien.
The species was named in Latin, meaning “strawberry” (fragarius), due to its strawberry-like body shape. They have been found throughout the Southern Ocean, at depths ranging from about 65 meters to approximately 1.2 kilometers.
Feather stars primarily attach themselves to rocks and coral reefs for most of their lifespan. They rarely move away from their habitat, making sightings of these animals swimming quite rare.
In addition to Promachocrinus fragarius, researchers also documented three new species of Antarctic feather stars.
