The humble sea lily (Endoxocrinus parrae) is an ocean animal closely related to the starfish, sea cucumber and sea urchin. With a ring of feathery fingers and a stalk 50 centimeters long, it resembles an ocean garden flower. And it has a sophisticated method for avoiding danger as caught in the video after the jump which shows a sea lily crawling slowly across the ocean floor on its fingers, dragging its broken stem behind it.
Other footage and photographs captured suggest that the sea lily makes its ocean floor dash to escape the attentions of sea urchins, which have been seen lurking on the sea bed behind the traveling sea lilies – "It's the lizard's tail strategy," Baumiller says. "The sea lily just leaves the stalk end behind. The sea urchin is preoccupied going after that, and the sea lily crawls away."
Baumiller adds that the sea lilies can travel at a surprising speed, peaking at 3 to 4 centimeters per second. "In a race with a sea urchin, the sea lily would probably win," he says.
Video: New Scientist (MOV file)
Source: New Scientist via Zooillogix
Tags: Sea Lilies | Sea Urchin | Flower
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