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Living Comatulids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2017

Charles G. Messing
Charles G. Messing*
Affiliation:
Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, 8000 North Ocean Drive Dania, Florida 33004, USA
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Abstract

Comatulid crinoids, or featherstars, are the dominant group of living crinoids and occur in a wide range of modern marine environments from the intertidal zone to the abyss. This chapter outlines current understanding of comatulid classification, distribution, feeding ecology, diets, predation, and taphonomy. A detailed introduction to morphological features, terms and associated symbology is given together with a discussion of practical aspects of working with specimens and the difficulties associated with species identifications. An artificial key to the families of comatulids is included.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Paleontological Society Papers , Volume 3: Geobiology of Echinoderms , October 1997 , pp. 3 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 by The Paleontological Society 

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