Several crinoids were seen living in the branches of a primnoid octocoral during Dive 08 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. By living in the branches, the crinoids get a boost off the seafloor and are higher in the water column, where they have better access to food drifting by.
Crinoids Living on Octocoral
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts. Download larger version (jpg, 1.2 MB).

Several crinoids were seen living in the branches of a primnoid octocoral during Dive 08 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. By living in the branches, the crinoids get a boost off the seafloor and are higher in the water column, where they have better access to food drifting by.

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