E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Florometra serratissima (A. H. Clark, 1907)
Common Feather Star
Family: Antedonidae

Distribution of Florometra serratissima in British Columbia

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Introduction

Feather stars (Florometra serratissima) are unique in being able to swim. They do so by graceful undulation of their 10 arms, 5 going upwards and the other 5 going downwards. The propulsive mode is sculling, the same mode as used by human swimmers and fishes. A cluster of gripping appendages or cirri provides attachment, but these are readily released prior to swimming. Little is known about natural predators of feather stars, but swimming would seem an excellent defense against such potential predators as fast-moving sunflower stars.

Read more about swimming/defence in Florometra on A SNAIL'S ODDYSEY.

Read about the possible use of swimming as a defense on A SNAIL'S ODDYSEY.

Status Information

Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Unlisted	Unlisted	Unlisted	Unlisted

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Notes

View a video of Florometra serratissima (Source: A Snails Odyssey).

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Genetic and lineage information (NCBI Taxonomy Browser)
MarineSpecies.org WoRMS taxon details

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Ocean Biogeographic Information System Distribution Map

Additional Photo Sources

Flickr Image Search
Google Image Search
Images from Calphoto

Related Databases

A Snail's Odyssey

General References

Google Scholar Search

Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2024-12-08 8:42:01 PM]

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