About Tropiometra carinata (Lamarck, 1816)
Elegant feather stars, scientifically known as Tropiometra carinata (Lamarck, 1816), can reach a total length of 20 cm. Their coloration varies from yellow to brown, and they are occasionally variegated with both yellow and brown. They have ten long arms that bear ciliated side branches which taper to a point, and each arm has between 20 and 30 cirri. This species is found off the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Mozambique, and also occurs across circumtropical regions. It is a subtidal species, found at depths of at least up to 51 metres (167 ft). Ecologically, elegant feather stars are typically found alone on shallow reefs, and become more abundant on deeper reefs. If displaced from their location, they can swim using their arms. Specimens found in False Bay host commensal organisms, including the myzostomid worm Myzostoma fuscomaculatum and the crinoid shrimp Hippolyte catagrapha.
