comatulid

co·mat·u·lid  (k-mch-ld) also co·mat·u·la (-l)

n. pl. co·mat·u·lids also co·mat·u·lae (-l)

Any of various marine invertebrates of the class Crinoidea, such as the sea lilies and feather stars, that are attached to a surface by a stalk when young but may be free-swimming as adults.

---

[From New Latin Comtulidae, former family name, from Late Latin comtulus, having neatly curled hair, from Latin comtus, having long hair; see comate¹.]

---

comatulid [kəˈmætjʊlɪd], comatula

n pl -lids, -lae [-liː]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of a group of crinoid echinoderms, including the feather stars, in which the adults are free-swimming

[from New Latin Comatulidae, from Comatula type genus, from Latin comātus hairy]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

comatulid - free-swimming stalkless crinoid with ten feathery arms; found on muddy sea bottoms feather star crinoid - primitive echinoderms having five or more feathery arms radiating from a central disk Antedon, genus Antedon - a genus of echinoderms of the family Antedonidae