Zygometra comata
©Lyle Vail: Zygometra comata on the reef slope near Bird Islet, Lizard Island. This specimen has a ray regenerating from the first division series, indicating a syzygy at that position. All division series that are visible are of two ossicles. It has 25-30 arms and cirri with about 30 segments.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Crinoidea
Order
Comatulida
Family
Zygometridae
Genus
Zygometra
Species
Zygometra comata
Distinguishing features
The genus Zygometra is differentiated from other crinoids by a particular type of articulation (a syzygy) in the first division series. This character is virtually impossible to determine in the field.
Zygometra comata has 25 to 30 arms, relatively long cirri with up to 30 segments, and all division series of two ossicles. A.H. Clark (1911) notes that there are only two IIIBr per ray and they are external. The specimen photographed here has one or two IIIBr series per ray but they are internal.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Not known.
This species is known from few specimens in the Australian Museum collection, from South Island between 9 and 12 m depth,
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Clark, A.H. (1911). Scientific results of the trawling expedition of H.M.C.S "Thetis", off the coast of New South Wales in February and March 1898, the recent crinoids of Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum, 4(15): 705-804. LIRS catalog number 90236.
- Clark, A.M. and F.W.E. Rowe (1971). Monograph of shallow-water Indo-west Pacific echinoderms British Museum (Natural History), London.