Several crinoids were seen living in the branches of a primnoid octocoral during Dive 08 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Animals like corals and sponges often serve as “ecosystem engineers,” building habitats for other organisms.
Crinoids Living on Octocoral
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts. Download largest version (jpg, 1.3 MB).

Several crinoids were seen living in the branches of a primnoid octocoral during Dive 08 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Animals like corals and sponges often serve as “ecosystem engineers,” building habitats for other organisms.

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