Crinoid

ocean · echinoderms · sea creatures · deep sea

Flower-shaped animals. Crinoids look like colorful flowers swaying on the ocean floor, but they're actually animals, not plants. Their arms wave around to catch tiny bits of food floating in the water.

Two main types. Some crinoids called sea lilies stay attached to the seafloor their whole lives using a stalk, like flowers rooted in soil. Others called feather stars are free to move around and drift through the ocean.

Lives everywhere deep. Crinoids live in oceans all around the world, from shallow reefs to the deepest parts of the ocean over 30,000 feet down where it's completely dark and cold.

Part of a big family. Crinoids are echinoderms, which means they're cousins with starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. All these creatures have spiky or bumpy skin and similar body plans.

Ancient ocean dwellers. Crinoids have been around since before dinosaurs, making them some of the oldest types of animals still living in our oceans today.