Antedon

Antedon is a genus of sessile, stemless crinoids. The genus first appeared in the fossil record in the Cretaceous period.

Characteristics

Members of this genus have no stems but have five pairs of feathery arms arising from a central concave disc. There are a number of cirri or unbranched appendages on a low, cone-shaped dorsal ossicle, a bone-like structure in the centre of the disc. The mouth and the ambulacral grooves are also on the upper surface. Clawed cirri on the lower surface provide temporary attachment to the substrate. There is great variability in the morphological features in Antedonids found in different habitats and the main distinguishing feature among the species is the number of cirri.

Species

The following species are recognised in the World Register of Marine Species:

• Antedon arabica AH Clark & AM Clark
• Antedon bifida (Pennant, 1777)
• Antedon duebeni Böhlsche, 1866
• Antedon mediterranea (Lamarck, 1816)
• Antedon nuttingi (AH Clark, 1936)
• Antedon parviflora (AH Clark, 1912)
• Antedon petasus (Düben & Koren, 1846)

References