Comanthina sp.
Encounter Rate
Spotting Difficulty
Best Season
Year-round
Depth Range
3-50 meters
Feather stars, or crinoids, are among the most ancient and beautiful echinoderms found in Komodo National Park, belonging to a lineage that stretches back over 450 million years — predating the dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years. These living fossils perch on prominent reef features like gorgonian sea fans, sponges, and coral heads, unfurling their elaborate feathery arms into the current to capture passing plankton. In Komodo, feather stars come in an extraordinary range of colours including vivid yellow, red, green, black, and multicoloured combinations, creating some of the most photogenic compositions on the reef. Each arm is lined with tiny tube feet called pinnules that trap plankton and organic particles, passing them down a food groove toward the central mouth. Feather stars can walk using specialised appendages called cirri, and some species can even swim short distances by rhythmically beating their arms. They are also important hosts for a fascinating array of commensal creatures including crinoid shrimp, squat lobsters, and clingfish that have evolved to perfectly match the colour and pattern of their feather star host.
Average Size
15-25cm arm span
Size Range
5-35cm arm span
Maximum Size
35cm arm span
Filter feeder that captures zooplankton and organic particles using sticky tube feet (pinnules) along its arms. Food is passed along grooves toward the central mouth.
Feather stars, or crinoids, are among the most ancient and beautiful echinoderms found in Komodo National Park, belonging to a lineage that stretches back over 450 million years — predating the dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years. These living fossils perch on prominent reef features like gorgonian sea fans, sponges, and coral heads, unfurling their elaborate feathery arms into the current to capture passing plankton. In Komodo, feather stars come in an extraordinary range of colours including vivid yellow, red, green, black, and multicoloured combinations, creating some of the most photogenic compositions on the reef. Each arm is lined with tiny tube feet called pinnules that trap plankton and organic particles, passing them down a food groove toward the central mouth. Feather stars can walk using specialised appendages called cirri, and some species can even swim short distances by rhythmically beating their arms. They are also important hosts for a fascinating array of commensal creatures including crinoid shrimp, squat lobsters, and clingfish that have evolved to perfectly match the colour and pattern of their feather star host.
This species plays an important role in the marine ecosystem of Komodo National Park. Responsible diving practices help protect these animals and their habitat for future generations.
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They are animals — echinoderms closely related to sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are active filter feeders that can walk and even swim.
