A new marine creature with tentacle-like arms has been discovered in the depths of the Antarctic sea. The organism uses its extremities for both movement and anchoring itself to the ocean floor. Marine biologists estimate that only about five percent of deep-sea animal species are known to us, which means that new discoveries are made regularly. Recently, researchers from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) found an unknown species during an expedition to the Antarctic. The creature, which resembles a strawberry, has been named the “Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star” (Promachocrinus Fragarius) by the team.
The organism is classified as a crinoid, specifically belonging to the group of feather stars, sea lilies, and brittle stars. The creature is about 20 centimeters long and has 20 long tentacle-like arms, as well as several shorter threads known as cirri. These feathered or knobbed appendages allow the organism to move through the water and anchor itself to the ocean floor using small claws at the tips. The Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star was found at depths ranging from 65 to 1170 meters in the Southern Ocean and feeds on plankton. Its cirri are designed to filter plankton from the seawater. The creature’s name is derived not only from its physical appearance but also from its color spectrum, which ranges from purple to dark red.
According to the researchers, the discovery of this new species highlights the importance of exploring the deep sea and the need for further research in this area. The fact that only a small percentage of deep-sea animal species are known to us suggests that there is still much to be discovered and learned about the ocean’s depths. The discovery of the Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star is just one example of the many fascinating and mysterious creatures that inhabit the deep sea.
