A sea lily is usually placed at the bottom of the ocean.
A sea lily is not really a lily, or even a plant. It is a marine animal known as a crinoid, and unlike other types of crinoids, this animal has a stem that is rooted to the bottom of the ocean. However, these creatures are aptly named, as they resemble lily flowers. They can normally be found at great depths in the oceans and seas and feed on plankton found in the water. Although they are usually attached to the ocean floor, these unusual marine animals can uproot themselves to escape predators.
Crinoids, or crinoids, are a type of echinoderms, marine invertebrates that have tube feet and somewhat symmetrical bodies. They are members of the phylum Echinodermata and are related to starfish and sea urchins. Most crinoids, like sea lilies, were abundant millions of years ago and still exist today.
Sea lilies are not flowers or plants, but rather resemble a lily flower. Some scientists may even refer to this type of animal as a living fossil. Its close relative, the feather star, is also a crinoid, but it lacks the long stalk like the sea lily and can swim freely.
The stalk at the bottom of a sea lily usually reaches a few feet (0.9 meters) in length. It is anchored to the bottom of the ocean most of the time by a suction cup foot. Some sea lilies may also have root-like features that allow them to cling to the ocean floor even better. At the top of this stem is a circular medium, known as the calyx. Several branched, feathery arms grow from the calyx and float in the water around the sea lily.
Millions of years ago, the sea lily was very abundant and could be found in both shallow and deep waters. Today, however, this animal is typically found in very deep water. It can usually be found attached to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea at depths of about 650 feet (about 200 meters) or more.
Plankton and other organic matter get trapped in the sea lily’s floating feather arms and are used for food. This organic matter is then transferred to the mouth located at the top of the calyx, which is known as the tegmen. Sea lilies don’t actually have a stomach, so food passes through the esophagus directly into the intestines. From there it travels to the rectum and finally to the anus, which is on the same surface as the mouth.
Although they are glued to the bottom of the ocean for most of their lives, sea lilies can move when necessary. A sea lily usually moves when it needs to escape a predator, such as a sea urchin. When it needs to move, a sea lily breaks off a small portion of the bottom of its stem. By doing this, the animal breaks free from the ocean floor and can move away from danger.